{
  "id": 12541630,
  "title": "Wing and a prayer won’t save ANC ahead of polls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/wing-and-a-prayer-wont-save-anc-ahead-of-polls",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/opinion/wing-and-a-prayer-wont-save-anc-ahead-of-polls/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The African National Congress (ANC) is seeking divine intervention ahead of the upcoming local government elections, with both the party's secretary-general and first deputy speaking publicly about the necessity of blessings from their party's spiritual leaders. Fikile Mbalula and Nomvula Mokonyane have both called upon the \"gods of the ANC\" to forgive members who have erred and to provide the party with the strength and support needed for success. However, experts caution against relying solely on faith to determine the outcome of the polls, emphasizing that parties should be judged based on their achievements, promises, and actions rather than on religious beliefs.",
  "summary": "First, it was Fikile Mbalula saying the party can never die because it is divinely protected by God and ancestors in a speech last month.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}