The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) wants former President Thabo Mbeki to explain his calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign following the African National Congress’s (ANC) poor performance in last week’s Local Government Elections.
ANCYL President Collen Malatji says Mbeki should account to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), arguing that the challenges confronting the ANC did not begin under Ramaphosa’s leadership.
Malatji was addressing members of the media in Johannesburg on Tuesday when he criticised Mbeki’s intervention, describing his remarks as unfortunate.
“The statement raised by President Thabo Mbeki is just unfortunate,” Malatji said.
He argued that Mbeki should raise his concerns within the ANC’s internal structures rather than publicly calling for Ramaphosa to step down.
“He must come raise them in the National Executive Committee of the ANC. We engage them at that level, and he must be able to explain to us that when he was confronted with those issues under his leadership, why did he not resign?” Malatji said.
ANCYL calls for accountability across ANC leadership
Malatji also argued that responsibility for the ANC’s declining electoral support should not rest solely on Ramaphosa.
He said all ANC leaders and public representatives must account for the party’s performance, particularly those entrusted with government responsibilities and party deployment positions.
The Youth League president expressed concern about the absence of some senior ANC figures during the election campaign, specifically criticising ministers and Members of Parliament who allegedly failed to participate in campaigning activities.
“Even those who did not campaign, there are people who are deployed to provide services by the ANC. Some of them are ministers, some of them are members of Parliament, but they were nowhere to be seen during these elections.
“If they are not campaigning for the ANC, who are they campaigning for?” he asked.
His comments suggest that the Youth League believes the party’s electoral challenges require broader accountability rather than focusing exclusively on the president.
ANC leadership faces pressure ahead of NEC meeting
The ANC is expected to convene its National Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, where the party’s performance in the recent Local Government Elections is expected to come under scrutiny.
The meeting is likely to provide a platform for senior party leaders to discuss the factors behind the ANC’s electoral performance, internal challenges and possible measures to rebuild support among voters.
Mbeki’s calls for Ramaphosa to resign have added another dimension to the debate over the party’s leadership and direction.
However, Malatji maintains that former leaders and current office-bearers must also be prepared to answer difficult questions about their respective contributions to the ANC’s challenges.
As the party prepares for its NEC meeting, questions over leadership accountability, electoral decline and the ANC’s future direction are expected to remain firmly on the agenda.
