JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The African National Congress (ANC) is navigating a complex web of internal disputes and public controversies ahead of the upcoming local government elections, with National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu addressing the party’s stance on organizational discipline, the Andile Lungisa mayoral court battle, and recent leadership scandals.
The Andile Lungisa Mayoral Dispute
At the center of the party’s current electoral challenges is National Executive Committee (NEC) member Andile Lungisa, who has approached the courts over his omission from the Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate list. Lungisa argues that the party cannot disregard the wishes of the communities that backed him. While public speculation initially pointed to an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) glitch, Bhengu clarified that the situation is strictly an “administrative matter” related to the ANC’s internal candidate selection processes.
Bhengu maintained that there was no instruction by any elected structure to remove Lungisa in the manner currently being articulated in the media. While acknowledging that he was initially identified as a potential mayoral hopeful, she declined to discuss the specifics of his removal publicly, noting that the matter is now before the courts. Instead, the issue is being handled internally by the Secretary-General, with national officials expected to review the matter. Bhengu stated that the ANC has an obligation to defend itself legally and will respond appropriately once served with court papers.
Internal Discipline and Ministerial Conduct
The interview also tackled the sensitive theme of organizational discipline. Bhengu described Lungisa’s decision to take internal candidate grievances to the public domain as “ill discipline,” stressing that NEC members should be custodians of organizational cohesion and utilize internal channels rather than litigating through the press.
This principle of discipline was also applied to Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, who recently faced severe backlash for using profanity against a member of the public during a community meeting. Bhengu unequivocally labeled Majodina’s outburst as “ill discipline,” stating that no leader is justified in insulting citizens, regardless of provocation or disruption. She confirmed that Majodina will be subjected to the ANC’s ethics and integrity management processes and must account to the relevant parliamentary committees, emphasizing that oversight bodies must be allowed to take their full course.
Leadership Scandals and Defections
When pressed on the broader quality of ANC leadership amid a string of controversies, Bhengu was asked about former defense minister Thandi Modise facing corruption charges, allegations of public money abuse involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s family, and the high-profile court battle between Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma over alleged vote-buying.
Bhengu pushed back against operating on “rumors” and public sentiment, pointing to South Africa’s robust, independent judiciary and institutions like the Hawks and the Madalanga Commission. She insisted that any proven wrongdoing must be handled through the ANC’s integrity management system or the courts, rather than through media debates.
Addressing the recent defection of a former party member who claimed the ANC is too distracted by internal squabbles to pursue the ideals of the Freedom Charter, Bhengu acknowledged that the movement has experienced setbacks in organizational cohesion. She noted that the party is not defensive about its challenges and is actively pursuing a renewal and political education program to restore its historical values, though she conceded that the democratic process naturally allows members to exercise their choices to leave.
Tensions in the Government of National Unity
Finally, the discussion touched on governance within the Government of National Unity, specifically regarding Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s instruction to conduct a lifestyle audit on Director-General Mathanzima Mweli.
Bhengu expressed the ANC’s strong disagreement with the “heavy-handed nature” of the minister’s interaction with the department’s administrative head. While the ANC supports lifestyle audits in principle, Bhengu argued that such measures should be authorized by specific commission reports or outcomes. She urged all parties within the coalition government to respect the separation between political interfaces and the civil service administration, and to treat officials with respect in accordance with the law.
