Speaking in Johannesburg over the weekend, African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said the renewal of the ANC depends on developing: “a culture where the ANC’s internal life is indistinguishable from the values that we proclaim.”

Mbalula’s call for a new culture within the party comes at a time when leaked polls show the ANC trailing the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg ahead of municipal elections scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027. These poll results have intensified the pressure on the ANC leadership to address issues of public trust and credibility.

Mbalula said that the ANC’s values must include: “honesty, humility, integrity and servant leadership.” He argued that restoring these principles within the ANC is essential if the party is to regain its moral authority and relevance in the eyes of the electorate.

Polls conducted by the Social Research Foundation and featured on the Makin Sense podcast last week showed that as early as 2022, voters were more likely to identify the DA as pro-poor, honest, and trustworthy than the ANC. This perception, according to Mbalula, highlights the urgent need for the ANC to reform its internal culture and reconnect with the aspirations of ordinary South Africans.

Mbalula said that such values of honesty and integrity were central to: “reverse the trust deficit with our people.” He emphasised that only by living up to these ideals can the ANC hope to win back disillusioned voters and restore its reputation for principled leadership.

However, analysts note that without mass prosecutions of senior political and government leaders implicated in corruption and wrongdoing, it is unlikely the ANC will succeed in rebuilding that trust. Many believe that real accountability and tangible action against corruption are critical if the ANC’s renewal project is to be credible in the eyes of the public.