Key Takeaways:
- President Cyril Ramaphosa used the ANC’s 114th anniversary celebration to address threats to democracy and the Constitution
- He condemned "bullies" at home and abroad who seek to divide South Africans and undo democratic gains
- The President acknowledged the ANC’s weaknesses and failures in service delivery and promised to fix them
- The government has identified six tasks to prioritize in 2026, including fixing local government, speeding up economic transformation, and waging war on crime and corruption
- The ANC faces significant challenges, including losing its parliamentary majority and pressure from a resurgent opposition and civic activism
Introduction to the ANC’s 114th Anniversary Celebration
President Cyril Ramaphosa used the occasion of the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) 114th anniversary celebration at the Moruleng Stadium in the North West to take a swipe at ‘bullies’, both at home and abroad, that seek to divide South Africans and undo the gains of democracy. The President began his speech by commemorating the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s Constitution, which remains one of the most progressive in the world. However, he said this celebration takes place amid "increasingly strident attacks" on constitutional values, the rule of law, and the rule-based international order.
Threats to Democracy and the Constitution
Across the world, the values of democracy, equality, equity, inclusion, human solidarity, gender equality, and social justice are under attack, according to Ramaphosa. He stated that while the majority of South Africans, and indeed of global humanity, embrace these values of freedom, equality, non-racialism, non-sexism, and human solidarity, there is an increasingly vocal minority in the country that has found a common cause with this global attack, and actively propagates falsehoods. Although he stopped short of naming any organisations, he was clearly referring to South African movements such as AfriForum and Solidarity, which are accused of having engaged with US President Donald Trump’s conservative political networks as well as the media in the US.
Accusations of Regime Change
Ramaphosa even accused these "forces" of trying to establish regime change in South Africa. Their aim is to undermine South Africa’s constitutional democracy, non-racialism, non-sexism, and the transformation project. They employ multifaceted tactics, including the propagation of blatant falsehoods such as claims of ‘white genocide’, to attract sympathy and solidarity from global racist movements and individuals. On the one hand, they form and fund political parties designed to fragment the motive forces of change. On the other hand, they sow the seeds of regime change, establish parallel state structures, and foment secessionist tendencies.
Response to Anti-Transformation Forces
Ramaphosa said there is a growing and increasingly open effort by domestic anti-transformation forces and their international allies to roll back the gains of democracy. In response, he argued that the moment requires building the broadest possible united front to defend and deepen the national democratic revolution, strengthen constitutional democracy, and protect South Africa’s sovereignty on the global stage. We as a people refused to be divided, we refuse to be bullied by anyone, whether here or around the world. We are united in our will and our resolve.
Promise to Fix Weaknesses
Ramaphosa also used his address to recognise the ANC’s own weaknesses and failures in service delivery, while admitting that slow economic growth and high levels of unemployment had demoralised and alienated many South Africans. He acknowledged that the political party needed to correct its weaknesses in order to reclaim its role as "leader" of society. To that end, Ramaphosa said the government had identified six tasks that would be prioritised in 2026. These include fixing local government and improving basic services, speeding up economic transformation, inclusive growth and job creation, waging war on crime and corruption, building a South Africa that belongs to all, making organisational renewal visible and irreversible, and building a better Africa and a better world.
Prioritizing Basic Services and Infrastructure
Basic services and infrastructure would also be prioritised. To that end, over the next three years, the government has pledged to invest R54 billion to repair water and electricity infrastructure in areas such as Buffalo City, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay. This investment is a crucial step towards addressing the socio-economic issues that have plagued the country, including poverty, unemployment, and energy insecurity.
Challenges Facing the ANC
The ANC’s 114th anniversary celebrations come as the party tackles its most serious challenge since taking power in 1994, having lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in the 2024 general elections and now being forced to govern through coalition arrangements at both national and provincial levels. The party also faces pressure from a resurgent opposition, rising civic activism, and widespread frustration over socio-economic issues. Despite these challenges, Ramaphosa’s speech was a call to action, urging South Africans to unite and defend their democracy against internal and external threats. The President’s promise to fix the ANC’s weaknesses and prioritize the needs of the people is a crucial step towards rebuilding trust and ensuring a better future for all South Africans.