Former AU Chair Warns of Declining Public Support for South Africa’s ANC

Former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has admitted that South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) is steadily losing its political footing and must urgently restore public trust.
In an appearance on Channel One TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Tuesday, November 25, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma acknowledged that the party’s support has diminished considerably.

“It is partly true, and that is precisely why we have recognised the need to renew ourselves,” she remarked. “We appear to have drifted off course. The last election made that very clear — we fell below the 50% threshold. We are working to revitalise the organisation and return it to its former stature. It is challenging, but we are making the effort,” she noted.

Once revered as the liberation movement that ushered South Africa into democracy, the ANC has in recent years faced intensifying criticism over governance failures, corruption controversies, internal rifts, and a steady erosion of electoral strength.

Dr. Dlamini-Zuma stressed that despite these difficulties, deliberate measures are being taken to rebuild party structures and re-engage with the electorate ahead of future polls.
Following the 2024 general election, the ANC forfeited its parliamentary majority for the first time in the democratic era, securing slightly above 40% of the national vote.

According to Wikiwand, the party also relinquished its dominance in key provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Northern Cape. Nonetheless, the ANC maintained control at the national level through a broad governing coalition—styled as the Government of National Unity—comprising parties that collectively command 72% of parliamentary seats.

Source: Leticia Osei