JOHANNESBURG - At the ANC's National General Council the party committed to confronting its issues.
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But what do they really mean for the party’s renewal agenda and what are the ANC’s key priorities going into the new year?
The ANC says it's heading into the new year more united than factionalised.
While working to regain public trust, the party says it has made progress in curbing internal divisions and stabilising the GNU.
The party's spokesperson reflected on the year that was and the ANC’s priorities for the year ahead.
Party spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu said, "The words of the president mirror everything that the ANC is saying about renewing ourselves."
"We have our own performance indicators when we look at the renewal agenda."
This NGC has resolved that we must prioritise nation-building, social cohesion and empowerment of the motive forces to unify society behind the cause of transformation and a better life for all.
https://t.co/KUxfrIFllb— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) December 11, 2025
Bhengu said the 2026 local government elections would be a litmus test for the party, saying, "what we are doing must resonate with the people of South Africa."
"They must believe in the ANC. It was not set up by individuals, it was set up by the people of South Africa who wanted a liberation front to tackle colonialism and imperialism. We are mindful of the fact that we must re-earn that trust."
Bhengu discussed the ANC's position within the government of national unity and said, "we have played our role, as the African National Congress, to stabilise our country. When we received the 40% outcome, we set out to stabilise our country."
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The spokesperson said that some parties in the GNU have played the role of "opposition" within the structure.
Bhengu also commented on international tensions between South Africa and the United States.
She said, "As Luthuli House, our deployees in government, at Dirco, led by the president, are hard at work at lessening any fracture among those that are working with South Africa in terms of trade and investment and participating in the South African economy."
"We continue to hold the view that the US can not keep South Africa to some kind of ransom."