ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has rejected reports that he is positioning himself for the role of Deputy President. He addressed the media on the sidelines of the ANC’s 5th National General Council (NGC), currently underway at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg.
The NGC is one of the ANC’s highest policy-review gatherings, held between national conferences. It brings together delegates from across the country to assess the state of the organisation, review policy implementation, and set priorities for the coming years. Although leadership issues often dominate political speculation around such meetings, the NGC is not a decision-making forum for electing leaders.
Mbalula emphasised this point, saying leadership positions are not part of the NGC agenda.
“We dont have the luxury to gather in large numbers like in the NGC and only become a spectacle of in fights and leadership,” he said.
“The issue of leadership will ne discussed at the right time.”
He also dismissed speculation that the gathering could see attempts to pressure President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down, saying such claims were unfounded.
“Maybe things have been said President will be taken out during the NGC, I dont know, there is no such here.”
“Such a thing is a plot that is out there but it will not see the light of day.”
The NGC continues today with various commissions discussing organisational renewal, economic transformation, governance, and preparations for the 2027 national conference.
