ANC’s January 8 Statement Sets Out Search for Renewal and ‘Decisive Action’

MORULENG –The African National Congress (ANC) used its January 8 anniversary to strike a familiar but increasingly urgent tone: renewal, organisational discipline and decisive governance reform, as it confronts declining electoral support, coalition politics and deep public scepticism.

Marking 114 years since its founding in 1912, the party’s annual statement and anniversary address, delivered this year from Moruleng in North West, reflect a movement under pressure to redefine its role in South Africa’s most competitive political era since 1994. Gone was triumphal language. In its place was a sober acknowledgement that the ANC’s future will be judged less by history and more by delivery.

The party has declared 2026 the “Year of Decisive Action to Fix Local Government and Transform the Economy,” a framing that underscores both urgency and vulnerability following the 2024 general election, in which the ANC lost its national majority for the first time.

A changing political reality

While the statement avoids direct reference to electoral losses, its language makes clear that the ANC understands the stakes. Repeated calls for “ethical leadership,” “movement discipline” and “mutual accountability” point to an organisation grappling with the consequences of corruption scandals, internal divisions and governance failures that have steadily eroded its moral authority.

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January 8 has traditionally been used to outline political priorities for the year ahead. This year, it doubled as a reality check. The ANC concedes, implicitly, that public confidence can no longer be assumed and that liberation credentials alone no longer resonate, particularly with younger voters facing unemployment, rising living costs and failing public services.

Local government at the centre

At the heart of the 2026 agenda is a renewed focus on fixing local government, long seen as the ANC’s weakest link and most visible source of voter anger. The party acknowledges that dysfunctional municipalities, poor financial management and collapsing services have become a political liability.

The statement commits the ANC to enforcing discipline among councillors, improving revenue collection, cleaning up indigent registers and moving away from short-term measures such as water tankers toward permanent infrastructure fixes. It also highlights planned investments in water security projects and expanded use of solar power in rural areas.

This emphasis reflects a recognition that service delivery failures at the municipal level have been among the most damaging factors in the ANC’s electoral decline.

Governance, accountability and renewal

Beyond municipalities, the ANC places renewed emphasis on governance reform across the state. It calls for capable and ethical leadership, stronger oversight and the rebuilding of public institutions weakened by years of mismanagement.

Internally, the party reiterates its commitment to organisational renewal, political education and ethical conduct. Cadre development and the work of the Integrity Commission are highlighted as essential to restoring credibility, with a clear warning that renewal must be real and measurable, not rhetorical.

The statement’s tone suggests an understanding that internal reform is no longer optional if the ANC is to remain electorally viable in an era of coalition politics.

Economic recovery and social protection

Economically, the ANC positions recovery and inclusive growth as central priorities. It reaffirms support for infrastructure-led development, industrialisation and job creation, while stressing the need to protect the poor through social grants and public services.

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The party defends broad-based black economic empowerment and land reform as essential tools for addressing inequality, while also emphasising youth employment programmes and support for township and small-scale enterprises.

While no major policy shifts are announced, the statement reinforces the ANC’s commitment to a developmental state model, coupled with an acknowledgement that the state must function more effectively and transparently to regain public trust.

Crime, corruption and social cohesion

The anniversary address also places strong emphasis on crime, corruption and gender-based violence, describing them as threats to social stability and economic recovery. The ANC points to ongoing anti-corruption efforts, support for law enforcement operations and the need for community-based approaches to safety.

Calls for a renewed national dialogue and social compact reflect concern about rising political polarisation, racial tension and disinformation, both domestically and globally. The party positions non-racialism and constitutionalism as central to countering what it describes as “anti-transformation” forces and growing global authoritarianism.

A movement at a crossroads

Taken together, the January 8 statement and anniversary address portray a movement at a crossroads. The ANC continues to draw on its liberation legacy, honouring historical figures and past sacrifices, but the emphasis has shifted decisively toward survival in a competitive democracy.

The message is clear: history will not be enough. The ANC’s future depends on its ability to deliver tangible improvements in governance, service delivery and economic opportunity, particularly at the local level.

As South Africa enters another politically complex year, the unresolved question is whether the commitments outlined in Moruleng will translate into concrete change, or whether they will join a long list of promises made under mounting pressure.