ANC ON THE BRINK: Ramaphosa's Leadership Under Siege as Party Fragments and Corruption Scandals Deepen

President Cyril Ramaphosa.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian

The African National Congress (ANC) is staring into the abyss, as whispers of a plot to remove President Cyril Ramaphosa intensify, exposing the deep-seated divisions within the party.

The once-mighty liberation movement is reeling, its grip on power tenuous, as corruption scandals and internal squabbles threaten to consume it.

Despite Deputy President Paul Mashatile's attempts to downplay the speculation, the writing is on the wall: the ANC is in crisis, and its leadership is under siege.

The party's National General Council (NGC) in Boksburg, scheduled to kick off on Monday, is shaping up to be a make-or-break moment for Ramaphosa, as rival factions jockey for position and the stakes grow higher.

As the ANC's internal drama plays out in the public domain, analysts warn that the party's fragmented state, declining membership, and weak structures threaten to undermine its chances in the 2026 Local Government Elections. "The ANC faces a million-dollar question: can it restore trust with the people and prove itself capable of serving the nation?" asks Professor Mazwe Majola, a prominent political analyst. "The party's credibility is at an all-time low, and it's struggling to shake off the perception that it's more interested in protecting its own than serving the people."

The recent murder of Madlanga Commission witness Marius van der Merwe has further exposed the ANC's vulnerabilities, highlighting the urgent need for effective witness protection and a renewed commitment to fighting corruption. Van der Merwe's bravery in testifying against corruption and police brutality made him a target, and his senseless killing has sent shockwaves through the nation.

As the ANC's internal squabbles play out in the public domain, The Azanian demands answers: will the ANC prioritize the people's interests, or will it succumb to self-serving power struggles? Will Ramaphosa emerge stronger from this crisis, or will the vultures close in and pick the carcass clean?

The stakes are high, and the consequences of the ANC's implosion will be felt by all South Africans. The party's decline has already emboldened its opponents, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) circling like sharks, waiting to pounce on the ANC's weakness.

As the nation watches with bated breath, one thing is certain: the ANC's fate hangs in the balance, and the outcome will shape the future of South Africa for generations to come.