ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party can still rebuild despite years of electoral decline, corruption scandals and weakening support in major cities. Speaking in Pretoria at a commemoration for anti-apartheid activist Solomon Mahlangu, Mbalula described the ANC as a movement damaged by “storms” but still capable of serving South Africans.

His remarks come as the ANC tries to steady itself after losing its national majority in the 2024 general election and as it prepares for the 2026 local government elections. Official results show the party’s support fell below 50% nationally for the first time in democratic South Africa.

Mbalula says the ANC can still bear fruit

Addressing supporters in Pretoria on Monday, Mbalula said the ANC had been weakened by both external pressure and internal failures, including corruption and complacency. Still, he argued that the party remained standing and could “bear fruit again” for all South Africans.

Mbalula said the ANC’s legitimacy must rest on service delivery and a “better life for all”, not on slogans alone. He also defended the party’s historical role in expanding access to electricity, sanitation and workplace equality, while arguing that inequality between suburbs and townships remains a central challenge in post-apartheid South Africa.

Why the message matters after the 2024 election

The Fikile Mbalula ANC message lands at a politically sensitive time. In South Africa’s 2024 national election, the ANC lost its parliamentary majority after winning about 40% of the national vote, according to the Electoral Commission’s results portal. That outcome forced the party into a Government of National Unity and deepened debate over whether it can recover before the next major electoral test.

Political analyst André Duvenhage, quoted in the source material, said the ANC is increasingly dependent on rural support and may suffer steeper losses in urban areas and metros. That assessment aligns with the broader pressure facing the party as opposition parties compete more aggressively in cities.

Recent statements also show the ANC is trying to refocus on local performance before the 2026 municipal elections. In February 2026, Mbalula told SABC News the party was intensifying preparations for those elections and prioritising sewage, road repairs and other basic services. News24 also reported in March that ANC branches were being directed to begin councillor candidate processes for the 2026 vote.

Responses and the road ahead

The source article does not include direct responses from opposition parties to Mbalula’s Pretoria remarks. However, his speech suggests the ANC plans to campaign on recovery, service delivery and its liberation movement legacy as the 2026 contest draws closer.

That makes the Fikile Mbalula ANC narrative more than symbolic. It is part of a broader effort to reassure supporters that the party can still govern effectively after its weakest national election result since 1994. Whether voters accept that case is likely to depend less on rhetoric than on visible improvements in local government performance.