JOHANNESBURG — The African National Congress (ANC) has issued a stern rebuke of the June 30 “March and March” protests, branding the demonstrations as orchestrated anarchy rather than legitimate civic action. During a comprehensive briefing, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula also addressed ongoing parliamentary tensions, offering unequivocal support for the National Assembly Speaker’s neutral stance in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s impeachment interdict.
Protests Branded as Coordinated Assault
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) drew sharp parallels between the planned street actions and the devastating July 2021 riots sparked by the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma. According to Mbalula, the NWC views the “March-and-March” movement as a calculated effort to render the country ungovernable.
While the ruling party conceded that illegal immigration is a valid national concern, leadership insists that the issue is being hijacked for political gain. Mbalula described the protests as a “coordinated assault disguised as a grievance,” warning that new political formations are using border security as a smokescreen.
“What we are witnessing now carries the same fingerprints,” Mbalula stated. He accused these factions of attempting to collapse state institutions and manufacture fear and unfair conditions just ahead of the local government elections.
The Secretary-General specifically called out political opportunists who exploit linguistic demographics to incite unrest. He criticized leaders who stand on platforms complaining that “people are speaking English,” using such rhetoric to support street marches and marshal citizens into chaos.
ANC Backs Speaker’s Neutrality in Impeachment Dispute
Shifting focus to parliamentary proceedings, the ANC firmly backed the National Assembly Speaker’s handling of President Ramaphosa’s legal application to interdict the impeachment committee.
The Speaker recently opted to remain neutral after seeking guidance from a legal firm, deciding not to oppose the President’s court application and instead filing a notice to abide by the judiciary’s ruling. Mbalula emphasized that the Speaker must remain above the political fray to protect the integrity of the legislature.
“The institution of the National Assembly must remain neutral, and the Speaker is properly preserving that neutrality by filing a notice to abide by the decision of the court,” Mbalula explained.
The Secretary-General praised the Speaker’s actions as constitutionally sound and entirely proper throughout the process. He warned that any efforts to drag the Speaker into the substantive merits of the impeachment dispute are misplaced and will not be countenanced by the party, which stands fully behind the office and the person of the Speaker.
Ramaphosa’s Mandate and Constitutional Commitment
Finally, the briefing touched upon the broader impeachment context regarding the Section 89 independent panel’s report on the Phala Phala matter. Mbalula confirmed that the ANC has already granted President Ramaphosa the mandate to review the panel’s findings.
Reaffirming the President’s commitment to constitutional democracy, Mbalula declared that if the party ultimately calls for Ramaphosa’s resignation, he will step down without hesitation and will certainly not hold the nation to ransom.