Power Play: Mbalula’s Bold ANC Reshuffle and the Road to 2027
Amid leadership struggles and factional battles, Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula restructures the ANC—but is this a revival strategy or a bid for power?
The ANC’s reconfiguration of provincial structures and deployment of ANC veterans is reported to be plagued by a leadership struggle as Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula prepares for the ANC election in 2027 and regroups the party for municipal elections.
According to News24, “Mbalula has also made significant changes to the rotation of deployment to provinces, instituting a complete overhaul of convenors of all provinces, axing eight out of nine convenors from their original roles and deploying them elsewhere.”
Gauteng is now led by ANC stalwart Amos Masondo, and KwaZulu-Natal by Jeff Radebe. The ANC intends to recoup from the electoral losses it faced in both KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, where the party lost to the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which amassed 45% of the vote within KwaZulu-Natal in its first year.
In response to the electoral loss, “Mbalula has made immediate changes to some subcommittees, including axing Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi as chairperson of the economic transformation committee and replacing her with Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi.”
Insiders have viewed the recent changes critically: “If you look at the changes, it’s obvious that there is an agenda, and that agenda is 2027; never mind the obvious distractions, like appointing Dlamini-Zuma as chairperson of one of the committees.”
“It’s clear he is preparing for 2027, and that is why he has reconfigured eight deployed NEC convenors to provinces.”
Mbalula has stated that the changes have been voted on by the NEC: “The intervention approved by the NEC seeks to strengthen the movement by integrating experienced leadership with a renewed commitment to political education, organisational discipline, and grassroots mobilisation.”
More importantly, Mbalula has reported that the changes have been made to fight against the faction battles that have been apparent within the ANC. The reconfiguration is meant to eliminate the problems that have held the party hostage. “Those who want to hold us to ransom cannot stop us. Our decreased majority has actually brought us to where we are.”
This raises a wider concern: given that the ANC—and more particularly Mbalula—has been aware of the factions that have dominated party politics, it is assumed that the new deployees will be more willing to cooperate with party leadership.
The largest issue for the ANC since the election has been the concern that the KwaZulu-Natal ANC allegedly may have been aware of and cooperated with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. In Gauteng, the defiance of the provincial leadership in forming a Provincial Government of Unity without the DA, the second-largest party in the GNU, has also raised alarms.
The new reconfiguration does mean that, if the ANC is able to bounce back in the municipal elections and return to its former dominance, much credit will be granted to Mbalula. Similarly, if this reconfiguration fails, will the same level of accountability be applied?
Historically, there has not been a deputy president who has not gone on to become president of both the country and the ANC at the end of a sitting president’s two terms in office. Former President Thabo Mbeki attempted to run for a third term but lost to Jacob Zuma. It has always been deputies who have gone on to perform and represent the party on the national stage.
Now, with Mbalula taking charge and assuming the reins of the party, is this truly for the betterment of the ANC, or is it to further strengthen his grip and influence in the contest for 2027?
Already, throughout 2024 and 2025, we have seen Mbalula step in and take over the role of Secretary-General, towing the party line and being part of major decisions such as the removal of Former President Zuma. But will it be enough to get him over the hump, change the course of history, and truly become the President of the ANC—and potentially, of the country?