Malatji Fires Back At MBeki: The Old Guard Must Take Responsibility For The ANC’S Decline

African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Collen Malatji has pushed back against attempts to place the blame for the ANC’s disastrous performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE) solely on the party’s current leadership, arguing that the organisation’s declining reputation is the result of problems that have accumulated over several years.

Malatji made the remarks while responding to former ANC President Thabo Mbeki, who questioned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s continued leadership following the party’s disappointing election results.

Mbeki suggested that if reports that Ramaphosa had offered to resign were true, stepping down would be an appropriate response to the electoral setback.

However, Malatji believes it would be unfair to hold only the current leadership accountable for a crisis that developed under successive ANC administrations.

Speaking during a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg, Malatji argued that the party’s credibility began deteriorating long before the current leadership took office.

He specifically pointed to controversies surrounding the arms deal during Mbeki’s administration, arguing that the former president and other senior figures were also part of the leadership structures responsible for the party’s historical challenges.

Malatji questioned why Mbeki did not resign when similar problems emerged during his own presidency.

He nevertheless acknowledged that accountability was necessary, insisting that the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) must answer for the party’s declining electoral support.

The Youth League president also criticised ANC leaders who allegedly failed to participate actively in election campaigns despite holding positions in government and Parliament.

According to Malatji, those who failed to campaign for the organisation should face consequences and should not automatically retain their leadership positions.

He further argued that the ANC must embrace generational renewal, saying younger leaders should take responsibility for rebuilding the movement and restoring public confidence.

The ANC’s national vote share dropped from 45.59% in the 2021 municipal elections to 30.76% in 2026, reflecting a significant loss of support.

The results have intensified internal discussions about leadership accountability, organisational renewal and the party’s future.

Malatji maintained that rebuilding the ANC cannot be achieved by simply blaming one leadership collective while ignoring the historical decisions that contributed to its decline.

The debate now places renewed pressure on the ANC to confront its internal challenges and demonstrate that it can regain the trust of South African voters.

Source;https://x.com/SABCNews/status/2120448912620138517

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