The African National Congress has confirmed that five senior party members, including former Police Minister Bheki Cele and former Mayor Nkosazana Tolashe, have been found guilty of bringing the party into disrepute, signaling ongoing efforts to maintain discipline amid internal fractures.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula confirmed the findings to EWN, though details about the specific infractions and consequences remain limited. The disciplinary action comes as the 112-year-old liberation movement struggles to project unity ahead of crucial elections.
Bheki Cele, who served as Police Minister under President Cyril Ramaphosa until a Cabinet reshuffle, has been a controversial figure known for his outspoken style and colorful public statements. His tenure was marked by both fierce crime-fighting rhetoric and criticism over policing failures, particularly during violent unrest and persistent crime waves.
Nkosazana Tolashe, who previously served as mayor in the Eastern Cape, also faces censure alongside three other members whose names have been confirmed in the disciplinary process. The ANC's National Disciplinary Committee handles internal infractions ranging from public criticism of party decisions to ethical violations.
The "bringing the party into disrepute" charge is a catch-all provision in ANC regulations that allows the organization to discipline members for conduct deemed harmful to its image or standing. Such cases often involve public statements contradicting party positions, ethical lapses, or actions that embarrass the organization.
For an organization that once commanded overwhelming electoral majorities, maintaining discipline has become increasingly challenging. The ANC's support has eroded from over 60% in previous elections to barely retaining a majority in recent polls, forcing coalition arrangements that complicate governance and expose internal divisions.
The disciplinary actions follow a pattern of the ANC attempting to enforce accountability on its members, though critics argue that such measures often lack consistency and fail to address deeper systemic problems. Previous high-profile disciplinary cases have sometimes been perceived as factionally motivated rather than principle-driven.
Mbalula, who has championed organizational renewal and tighter discipline since becoming Secretary-General, faces the delicate task of maintaining unity while enforcing standards. His leadership comes at a time when the ANC must balance internal democracy with presenting a coherent public face.
The consequences for the five members remain unclear, with penalties ranging from warnings and suspensions to expulsion in the most severe cases. The ANC's disciplinary processes allow for appeals, and final sanctions often take months to finalize.
Political analysts note that while such disciplinary measures demonstrate organizational functioning, they do little to address the fundamental challenges facing the ANC: persistent corruption scandals, factional battles, governance failures, and declining public trust. "The ANC's problem isn't a few members bringing it into disrepute," observed one veteran political commentator. "It's systemic failures in governance and accountability."
In South Africa, as across post-conflict societies, the journey from apartheid to true equality requires generations—and constant vigilance. The ANC's internal struggles reflect broader questions about how liberation movements transition from revolutionary organizations to governing parties capable of meeting democratic expectations.
For voters watching these internal disciplinary proceedings, the question remains whether the ANC can reform itself sufficiently to address the country's urgent challenges—electricity shortages, unemployment, crime, and service delivery failures—or whether organizational maintenance has become a substitute for meaningful governance reform.
The party has not announced a timeline for final decisions in these cases, and the affected members have not yet commented publicly on the findings.
