The recent events that have been unfolding within the African National Congress are clear indication that the governing party is far from been united.
Let us, firstly, look at the current situation in the North West province. Residents of Mahikeng have been protesting for nearly a week now and are demanding that the premier of the province, Supra Mahumapelo, steps down with immediate effect. Acts of burning of tyres and looting of shops are a clear indication that they mean business. As a result, President Cyril Ramaphosa had to cut short his Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting trip in London so that he could be able to resolve this issue. However, since his return to South Africa, there is no change that has happened.
Mahumaphelo has maintained that he will only step down if the ANC decides to remove him. I honestly doubt that the party will decide to remove him as this could cause further divisions in the party. Mahumaphelo has already stated that he is being victimised because he was part of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's slate at the party’s elective conference.
The divisions in the KwaZulu-Natal province also seem to be intensifying. On Saturday, some top officials of the ANC, together with Ramamphosa met with members of the orgainsation in KwaZulu-Natal to ensure that there is unity before the election of the PEC in the province takes place. Divisions in KwaZulu-Natal can be dated back to 2016, when then premier, Senzo Mchunu was forced to resign.
Members of the province that supported Dlamini-Zuma at the party’s 54th elective conference, last year, are accusing those who supported Ramaphosa of using delay tactics because they can see that they will not be able to win the elections. The Free State also has a similar case to KwaZulu-Natal. A task team had to be appointed in both provinces to ensure unity, however, divisions seems to be continuing.
Ramaphosa is faced with a tough task of ensuring that these divisions end. He needs to ensure that the decisions he takes will not lead to further divisions in the party because the general elections will be taking place next year. Should the divisions continue, the ANC is at risk of losing voter confidence.
So far, President Ramaphosa is doing an excellent job in showing that the ANC is trying to fix the mistakes of the past to gain the public’s trust again. This is evident in the raids and arrests that the Hawks have recently conducted to bring those responsible for corruption to account.
