The African National Congress (ANC) has moved swiftly to clamp down on two of its high-profile members, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and former Cabinet minister Malusi Gigaba, after their explosive public remarks that the party says amount to “deliberate de-campaigning” and a direct attack on ANC unity.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the ANC’s national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the party had taken “serious concern and disapproval” of comments made by both men, warning that “no comrade will be exempt from the discipline of the organisation which demands unity, discipline, and revolutionary morality from all.”
Gigaba Accuses ANC of Corruption and Vote-Buying
Gigaba, who has largely kept a low profile since stepping down as Home Affairs Minister in 2018 following a series of scandals, re-emerged with scathing criticism of the ANC’s leadership. In an interview published in The Sunday Times, he claimed that the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had “failed to achieve its objectives” and accused the party of being consumed by corruption and factional battles.
He went further, revisiting the highly contested 2017 ANC Nasrec Conference that saw Cyril Ramaphosa elected party president.
“The wholesale buying of votes at Nasrec was an embarrassment to our movement. It is no secret that money changed hands, and President Ramaphosa was at the centre of that. The ANC has lost its moral compass,” Gigaba said.
He also lambasted the “culture of opulence within the party,” accusing some leaders of using political office as a personal enrichment scheme.
“We cannot pretend anymore. Corruption is no longer isolated—it is embedded,” he declared.
His remarks have shaken the ANC leadership, which has been at pains to project unity within the Government of National Unity (GNU) formed after the May 2024 general elections.
Mchunu Warns ANC Is “On the Brink of Collapse”
Mchunu, who was suspended as Police Minister in July 2025, also broke ranks over the weekend. Speaking on Saturday at a memorial for struggle stalwart Nokuhamba Nyawo in Machobeni, Ngwavuma, he compared the ANC’s state to “a person walking on the edge of a cliff.”
He warned that the 2026 local government elections could determine the ANC’s very survival.
“People still love the ANC, but we became big-headed and they punished us,” Mchunu admitted.
His remarks were met with loud applause from some in attendance, but within the ANC they sparked outrage. The party has already labelled his words “a flagrant violation of ANC communication protocols” and accused him of emboldening “counter-revolutionary forces.”
Why Was Mchunu Suspended?
Mchunu’s suspension stems from a series of allegations involving tender irregularities worth more than R600 million in the South African Police Service (SAPS). At the heart of the probe are claims that Mchunu used his ministerial influence to push through contracts for police vehicles, uniforms, and technology systems without proper procurement processes.
One controversial deal involved a R280 million contract for riot-control vehicles awarded to a politically connected supplier, despite Treasury objections. Another probe focuses on a R120 million contract for police communication systems that allegedly bypassed competitive bidding procedures.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is also examining claims that senior officials close to Mchunu benefited from kickbacks linked to firearm licensing and IT contracts.
While Mchunu has denied any wrongdoing, insisting he is the victim of a political conspiracy, his suspension was seen as a significant blow to his political career. The Presidency announced he would remain suspended until investigations are concluded.
ANC: “Ill-Discipline Will Not Be Tolerated”
The ANC’s statement did not mince words.
“These comrades acted outside of any sanctioned organisational mandate or collective structure, making pronouncements that amount to a deliberate assault on the ANC’s credibility and cohesion. Their remarks must be seen as an opportunistic attack on the organisation,” the statement read.
Bhengu said communication in the ANC was a “constitutional mandate of the Secretary-General” and that deviation from established channels would not be tolerated.
“The renewal programme cannot co-exist with ill-discipline,” she warned.
Opposition Parties React
The fallout has not gone unnoticed by opposition parties, who argue that the remarks by Gigaba and Mchunu confirm long-standing warnings about ANC mismanagement.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the ANC’s outrage was misplaced.
“Instead of silencing those who tell the truth, the ANC should be dealing with the rot in its ranks,” said DA spokesperson Solly Malatsi. “Gigaba and Mchunu may be opportunistic, but what they are saying reflects the lived reality of South Africans: corruption, maladministration, and an ANC that is eating itself alive.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were equally scathing, describing the spat as “a family feud among thieves.”
“The ANC cannot discipline its way out of collapse,” said EFF national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys. “Gigaba and Mchunu are not exposing anything new; they are simply confirming what the people already know—that the ANC is corrupt, divided, and incapable of renewal. South Africans deserve better.”
Public Reaction: “The Truth Hurts”
On social media, South Africans weighed in with mixed reactions. On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags #ANCUnityCrisis and #GigabaSpeaksOut trended for most of Monday.
Some users expressed support:
“Gigaba is right. The ANC has sold out the people for personal gain. At least someone is saying it out loud,” wrote @MzansiVoice.
Others accused both men of hypocrisy.
“These are the same men who benefited from ANC corruption for years. Now they want to act like saints. Spare us!” posted @Sibongile_M.
On Facebook, KwaZulu-Natal community forums reflected the same divide. Some praised Mchunu for being “brave enough to tell the truth,” while others dismissed him as “just fighting back because he’s facing suspension and corruption charges.”
One political analyst told journalists that the public mood shows fatigue with the ANC’s internal battles.
“Ordinary South Africans are tired of being spectators in a never-ending soap opera. While ANC leaders fight among themselves, the people are dealing with unemployment, crime, and poverty,” he said.
A Party at a Crossroads
Analysts agree the public fallout reflects deeper cracks within the ANC. Prof. Steven Friedman said Gigaba and Mchunu’s remarks cannot be dismissed as isolated rants.
“These are not ordinary members,” Friedman said. “Gigaba is a former Cabinet minister with strong ties in the ANC Youth League, while Mchunu is still a sitting minister, albeit suspended. Their comments suggest that factional tensions remain unresolved, especially in the wake of the GNU.”
Insiders suggest the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee is expected to summon both Gigaba and Mchunu in the coming weeks.
An NEC member told African Times that leadership wants to “send a strong message.”
“If we allow this kind of rhetoric to go unchecked, we risk total disintegration. These comrades will be disciplined,” the NEC member said.
For now, the ANC is attempting to project unity while grappling with declining public confidence and mounting scandals. But the rebukes from Gigaba and Mchunu, combined with looming disciplinary hearings, threaten to expose the fragility of that unity.
As one analyst put it:
“The danger for the ANC is that the more it suppresses criticism, the more it risks confirming the very accusations being made—that it is intolerant, corrupt, and out of touch with its people.”
