Writing on the African National Congress (ANC) website last week, party Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said: “The organisation is stabilising, reconnecting, and proving that disciplined work among the people restores both credibility and hope.”

His comments come as the ruling party faces mounting pressure ahead of the next local government elections, likely to be held within the next 12 to 15 months, with declining membership and public trust threatening its dominance.

However, recent polling suggests the ANC is not yet recovering, with support continuing to drift toward opposition parties. Analysts say the party’s only path to regaining credibility lies in improving the material circumstances of ordinary South Africans through jobs, reliable services, and growth.

Ahead of South Africa’s 2024 election, that saw ANC support fall by almost 20 percentage points, Mbalula often made similarly confident statements, expressing certainty that his party was popular and united and that it would easily win that election, whilst dismissing polls and political research to the contrary.