Gauteng Premier and ANC provincial chairperson Panyaza Lesufi has laid down a series of political conditions for anyone seeking to lead the ANC, declaring that future leadership hopefuls who fail to reject the Democratic Alliance (DA), support the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act and back the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act should not expect the support of the party’s Gauteng structures.
Delivering a message of support at the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) 13th National Congress on Friday, Lesufi said the ANC was entering a decisive period where unity against what he described as “anti-transformation forces” was essential ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
Lesufi warned delegates that opposition parties and what he termed “anti-transformation forces” had become increasingly emboldened, accusing sections of business of openly funding parties seeking to weaken the ANC.
“The enemy is emboldened. The anti-transformation forces are uniting. Those that are calling for regime change are celebrating,” he said.
He claimed these forces were now attempting to influence government from within while simultaneously mobilising against the ANC ahead of the November local government elections.
“Time for internal factions, time for inter-political differences is over. What we need now is to unite and reclaim our movement and ensure that the enemy is defeated.”
Lesufi also used the platform to praise Gauteng’s governing arrangement, saying the province remained “the only liberated province” because it governed without the DA.
Referring to Gauteng’s recently tabled R170 billion budget, he said progressive parties had backed spending aimed at strengthening the state while the DA and the Freedom Front Plus had opposed it.
“We are not ashamed because there was no way that they would come and support a budget that is going to end tenders and capacitate the state and ensure workers are employed in our province.”
He also warned that the ANC could no longer take its traditional support base for granted, saying opposition parties were making inroads into communities that had historically backed the governing party.
“Never, never did we ever think that people of Soweto can welcome Helen Zille in our presence,” he said.
He further alleged that major companies were openly financing parties opposed to the ANC, naming Capitec, betting company Betway and businesses in the gambling sector as examples.
“Those that control Capitec, last month alone, they donated more than R40 million to the Democratic Alliance. Those that own Betway Company, without shame, they’ve donated more than R15 million to the Democratic Alliance.”
He urged delegates to confront businesses that, in his view, were profiting from South Africans while funding parties seeking to remove the ANC from power.
Lesufi then outlined what amounted to a political litmus test for future ANC leaders, saying Gauteng would withhold its support from any leadership hopeful who failed to embrace the party’s core policy positions.
“Whoever wants to lead our revolution from now on, if they don’t denounce the Democratic Alliance, they must not be assured of any form of support that comes from us,” he said.
He added that future leaders who did not openly support the NHI Act or the BELA Act “must forget about our support”.
Lesufi also insisted that prospective ANC leaders must back land reform, saying those who did not support “the return of our land unconditionally to the rightful owners” should similarly not expect Gauteng’s backing.
He further argued that anyone seeking to lead the ANC must work to rebuild relations with the party’s alliance partners rather than divide them.
“Any leader that wants to lead our movement, if they can’t bring back the alliance together but they want to divide the alliance, they must forget about our support because we’ll defend the alliance forever.”
Throughout his address, Lesufi repeatedly appealed for unity within the ANC and its alliance partners, warning that internal divisions would only strengthen political opponents.
“We are coming to you to urge you. We are coming to you to really impose our wish that time for internal factions, time for inter-political differences is over,” he said.
“What we need now is to unite and reclaim our movement and ensure that the enemy is defeated.”
Lesufi urged NEHAWU delegates to emerge from their congress united, saying organised labour remained central to defending the ANC-led alliance against what he described as “right-wing populism”.
“We have to be united to defend our revolution. But most importantly, we have to reclaim the African National Congress,” he said.
“Betrayal is not an option.”