This ‘ANC ship’ is sinking – Lesufi

By Zukile Majova
Political Editor

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has described the ANC as a sinking ship whose captain and crew are bickering among each other instead of saving the ship.

“The ship is sinking and this ship is sinking at a faster rate. Instead of all of us trying to check and save this ship from sinking, we are squabbling over who must take ownership of the ship.

“You can take the ship, but it will be at the belly of the sea and it will be meaningless,” he said.

It is a startling admission from Lesufi, who is also the ANC provincial chairperson, tasked with turning the ANC fortunes around before the 2026 local government elections.

In the last municipal poll, the party lost the Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg metros and has been stitching together controversial alliances to keep Joburg and Ekurhuleni.

The once arrogant Lesufi was recently humbled at the polls where the ANC received just 36% of the vote in Gauteng, forcing him to govern with a coalition of parties.

Speaking at the party’s lekgotla which ended on Monday, Lesufi said infighting was destroying the party.

Meanwhile the ANC national working committee trekked to KwaZulu-Natal where the party’s electoral fortunes fell from 54% to 17% in a single election.

The party’s top leadership was expected to take a strong stance against the provincial executive committee led by Siboniso Duma.

But President Cyril Ramaphosa said it was time to unite the party’s branches.

Party Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said Jacob Zuma’s MK party confused ANC supporters who may have voted for it thinking Zuma was still working for the ANC.

The MK party got the lion’s share of the vote in KZN, walking away with over 45% of the vote, but failed to put together a government.

Pictured above: Panyaza Lesufi.

Source: X