According to an ANC insider, as well as analysts and politicians, DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille’s recent criticism of Gauteng ANC Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi has caused substantial internal divides within the ANC ahead of the local government elections.
These disagreements are overshadowing pressing societal issues, such as service delivery constraints and inadequate infrastructure.
The formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) has exacerbated these differences, with some alliance partners calling it a betrayal.
The DA, led by Zille, recently wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa, requesting action against Lesufi, accusing him of overstepping his authority in Gauteng and disobeying national directions. This debate erupted in response to the dismissal of DA councillor Cilliers Brink as mayor of Tshwane, a motion supported by the ANC, ActionSA, and the Economic Freedom Fighters.
Zille threatened to halt talks in other metropolitan areas unless Brink was reinstalled.
In response, Lesufi declared that the ANC will not be dictated to by the DA, emphasizing the party’s unity.
“You will never dictate terms to us. The ANC is not for sale; we are one ANC, not a federal movement,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Lesufi was subsequently summoned to ANC headquarters at Luthuli House to clarify his comments.
On Thursday, ActionSA’s Dr Nasiphi Moya was elected as the new mayor of Tshwane.
ActionSA KwaZulu-Natal leader Zwakele Mncwango commented on Zille’s tactics, suggesting they are part of a broader strategy to undermine the ANC.
He noted that the DA tends to focus on individuals like Lesufi, rather than recognising the orchestrated divisions behind the scenes.
“I remember because I was there most of the time, assisting to divide the ANC in impeaching Zuma. There was always underground work by ANC members to divide it. Even terms like RET [Radical Economic Transformation] became a label used to paint ANC members as enemies of the country,” Mncwango said on X. “It’s happening again. The ANC will realise too late that Zille was always dividing them. She is slowly weakening them.”
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe remarked that the ANC is grappling with a self-inflicted crisis.
He pointed out that the ANC’s alliance with the DA was intended to deter opposition efforts regarding President Ramaphosa’s handling of the Phala Phala scandal.
He added that the GNU agreement must be clearly communicated to lower-level officials for effective implementation.
“All Helen Zille is doing is reminding the ANC of this understanding. The coalition’s terms must cascade down to lower structures for it to be taken seriously,” he maintained.
An ANC insider indicated that Zille is strategically sowing discord within the party ahead of the local elections, warning that the leadership risks falling into her trap. “We cannot let the ANC become divided by an opponent seeking to gain control,” the insider emphasised.
Meanwhile, Ramaphosa is set to address party structures on the first 100 days of the GNU at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on Monday