African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa has told delegates at the party’s 5th National General Council (NGC) that the organisation must “go back to basics” to regain public confidence and reconnect with communities. Delivering his Political Overview at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni on Monday, Ramaphosa said the ANC’s relevance depends on rebuilding its organisational culture, strengthening its structures and demonstrating its commitment to improving the lives of South Africans.
The five-day NGC, convened to assess progress on resolutions taken at the ANC’s 55th National Conference in 2022, is reviewing the party’s renewal efforts, government performance and the implementation of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). Ramaphosa said the 2022 conference emphasised that renewal was essential to restoring trust and advancing transformation. The conference declared that the ANC must show through action that it is committed to improving the conditions of all South Africans.
Ramaphosa said renewal requires reaffirming the ANC’s culture and values. This includes decisively confronting corruption, strengthening ethics and building a principled, disciplined cadreship. He said the NEC has introduced mechanisms to ensure leadership accountability, strengthened the Integrity Commission’s mandate and made ethics training compulsory through the political education curriculum. The membership system has been overhauled to ensure the party attracts people aligned with its values.
He reminded members that renewal must also be reflected in their conduct, citing the January 8th Statement of 2025, which called for members to embody excellence, humility, ethics and hard work, both in their daily behaviour and on social media.
Strengthening ANC structures remains central to the renewal agenda. Ramaphosa said branches must be embedded in the communities they serve and must be responsive to local concerns. Recruitment, induction and cadre development are key, with the OR Tambo School of Leadership continuing to drive political education. He said each member bears responsibility for understanding ANC policies and programmes.
Turning to the Alliance, Ramaphosa said its unity is essential for pursuing the NDR. The Alliance, he said, is “a living organism” that has grown out of struggle, not merely a paper agreement. While celebrating COSATU’s 40th anniversary, he noted concerns about the South African Communist Party’s decision to contest elections independently. He said this threatens Alliance cohesion, and recent by-elections show this has caused divisions. He said the NGC must consider the implications, noting ongoing bilateral discussions with the SACP.
Reflecting on national developments since the 55th Conference, Ramaphosa outlined the challenges facing the country. He recalled that the conference was held as South Africa was recovering from COVID-19, the 2021 unrest and widespread flooding, while experiencing record levels of load shedding. With 205 days of power cuts in 2022 and 330 days in 2023, economic growth and job creation were prioritised as central tasks.
Ramaphosa said the quality of life for South Africans remains the key measure of progress. Poverty persists, shaped by the legacy of dispossession and inequality. In 2024, nearly a quarter of households depended on social grants as their primary income. While this highlights the extent of need, he said it also reflects the ANC government’s extensive social support programmes. Around 61 percent of the national budget after debt servicing is allocated to the social wage, including education, healthcare, housing and free basic services.
Rising living costs have affected most households, with the poor and working class hardest hit. The 55th Conference directed the NEC to prioritise addressing the cost of living crisis, and Ramaphosa said this remains a central focus.
He highlighted the National Dialogue as an important platform to address the country’s challenges. The first National Convention in August 2025 brought together more than 1 000 delegates from over 400 organisations. An Eminent Persons Group is finalising structures for the dialogue, which will expand to thousands of ward-level meetings in the coming year.
On governance and elections, Ramaphosa acknowledged that the 2024 national and provincial elections marked a significant setback for the ANC. The party secured 40 percent of the vote, losing its majority nationally and in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. He attributed the decline partly to dissatisfaction with service delivery, economic pressures, perceptions of corruption and the emergence of the MK Party. Low voter turnout, at 58 percent, also affected the ANC more than other parties.
The NEC resolved that the circumstances required the ANC to ensure stability and unity in the country. It consequently invited all parliamentary parties to form a Government of National Unity (GNU). The GNU now includes ten parties—the ANC, DA, IFP, PA, FF Plus, UDM, Rise Mzansi, Al Jama-ah, PAC and GOOD. The parties agreed to uphold the Constitution, promote good governance and pursue a shared minimum programme focused on inclusive growth, job creation, reducing poverty and strengthening the state.
Ramaphosa said the NEC’s assessment of the GNU’s first year concluded that the core progressive agenda has been safeguarded despite difficult conditions. He said the ANC has not retreated from its positions in the face of resistance from right-wing groups.
Local government reform remains a priority. Many municipalities face severe service delivery failures, affecting households, businesses and institutions. Government is reviewing the White Paper on Local Government and the fiscal framework, while targeted interventions are underway in struggling metros such as eThekwini and Johannesburg. The District Development Model continues to improve coordination across government.
He addressed reforms in procurement, saying the Public Procurement Act will introduce a new framework to curb misconduct and corruption. He said procurement must support black- and women-owned companies, and that outsourcing government functions to contractors without expertise has weakened the state.
Ramaphosa outlined trade challenges, including unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States. The government is negotiating a trade agreement while accelerating export diversification and supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Land reform remains urgent, with nearly 25 percent of formerly white-owned farmland now restored, redistributed or state-owned. He said support systems for beneficiaries must be improved and outstanding restitution claims resolved more efficiently.
On gender equality, Ramaphosa highlighted progress in women’s representation in Parliament and the public sector. The government has committed to 40 percent procurement for women-owned companies, though current spending remains lower. He said much more needs to be done, especially as gender-based violence remains a crisis. In November 2025, the government declared gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster to strengthen coordination and prevention.
On safety and security, Ramaphosa said crime continues to undermine development. He cited SAPS operations that have dismantled syndicates and recovered firearms. Economic Infrastructure Task Teams have made breakthroughs in combating extortion, kidnapping and illegal mining. Community Policing Forums are being revived to strengthen community involvement.
Ramaphosa concluded that the ANC must deepen its renewal efforts, strengthen unity and demonstrate its commitment to building a capable state and improving the lives of South Africans.
