The ANC's internal power struggles have taken a dramatic turn, with a seemingly innocuous T-shirt igniting a public spat between the party's secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, and Gauteng chairperson, Panyaza Lesufi.
The tension, simmering for months, boiled over when Lesufi, during a media conference at Luthuli House, sported a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Don't Kill Chris Hani Again." This bold statement, delivered amidst the breakdown of negotiations for a government of provincial unity with the DA in Gauteng, has sent shockwaves through the party's ranks.
Mbalula, known for his fiery rhetoric, was left bewildered by the gesture. "When I saw Panyaza wearing the T-shirt, I asked the meaning of that. Even in philosophical terms, I did not understand him properly. What does he mean by that? Who is he directing that to?" he questioned during a recent interview with the Sunday World Engage podcast.
Mbalula's frustration stems from the perceived defiance of the Gauteng PEC, led by Lesufi, against the national leadership. Whispers of a cold war between the provincial and national offices have been circulating for some time, with the Gauteng leadership allegedly favouring a coalition with the EFF and MK, a move that directly contradicts the national office's strategy of forming a government of national unity with the DA.
Lesufi, however, has defended his message, explaining in a television interview that the T-shirt was a powerful symbol of the ANC's commitment to the legacy of Chris Hani. "What Chris Hani stood for will always stand; we will defend it whatever it takes and whatever moment. Chris Hani will never die again," he declared. He further clarified that the T-shirt was a message of defiance against any attempt to undermine the ANC's core principles.
Mbalula, however, sees the Gauteng leadership's actions as a symptom of a deeper malaise within the party. He has expressed concern about a "general weakness of the leadership to engage with ANC structures effectively" in the province, citing instances of factionalism and a reliance on Zoom meetings instead of direct engagement with members. He has also criticised the Gauteng PEC's focus on "deployments" and "give-and-take arrangements" within local government, accusing them of prioritising power plays over the party's broader interests.
"There are already a lot of things that I have seen that are problems for me," Mbalula lamented. "Comrades run ANC through Zoom meetings; they run ANC by not engaging structures where there are challenges and talking to them and understanding them; they run roughshod over structures imposing disciplinary processes to short-circuit easy organisational solutions, demoralising membership most of the time."
Mbalula's criticism has been met with a mix of support and cynicism within the ANC. Some view his pronouncements as a necessary corrective, while others see them as a thinly veiled attempt to consolidate his own power base ahead of the 2027 ANC presidential election.
A senior party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that Mbalula's criticism of Lesufi is motivated by his own ambitions. "Mbalula’s criticism of Lesufi should be taken with a pinch of salt because it is motivated by his ambition to become ANC president in 2027 and he sees South Africa’s most industrious premier as his threat," the leader asserted. "Lesufi is becoming popular among the structures which believe he possesses the qualities to lead the ANC in 2027. Unfortunately, Mbalula is targeting the wrong guy because Panyaza is not interested in the position."
The Gauteng leadership, however, remains defiant, with Lesufi dismissing any notion of defiance against the national leadership. "Out there, there is this notion that Gauteng defied national [leaders]. There is no such. Even if they were to attempt that, it is not possible; there is no province that can defy national," he stated.
Mbalula, however, has urged the Gauteng leadership to focus their energy on building the ANC rather than engaging in "reckless communication" gymnastics. He has also pointed to the North West province as a model of effective leadership, praising their efforts to rebuild the party after years of turmoil. "When I look at the impact of leadership, I look at North West. I worked with them, and I know the challenges they are facing there, but when I came back from there, it was clear that these comrades were doing something there that came to impress me, and I saw it in the [election] results in terms of work. That is how leadership is judged," he said.
The T-shirt incident has exposed a deep rift within the ANC, highlighting the party's internal power struggles and the growing tensions between the national and provincial leadership.
