PARTY RESET OP-ED: The ANC’s liberation history cannot substitute for effective governance
The ANC’s electoral decline to 31% in the 2026 local government elections is because of a leadership crisis that relies on liberation history rather than effective governance.
The ANC's electoral decline to 31% in the 2026 local government elections, down from nearly 46% in 2021, signals a significant shift in its relationship with South African society. The party's dwindling electoral performance and its failure to win an outright majority in any metropolitan municipality reflect a broader crisis of leadership that has lost the capacity to inspire society.
This crisis is attributed to a leadership that relies on liberation history rather than effective governance, and it is particularly concerning for the younger generation of voters who assess political parties based on their overall performance, contribution to society, and ability to offer practical solutions to the country's challenges.
Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
