African National Congress ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the party must win elections outright to advance radical socio-economic transformation.
The ANC slumped to a 40 share of the vote in the 2024 elections, forcing it to govern with several other parties in the government of national unity GNU.
However, it has faced opposition to its transformation policies from the Democratic Alliance DA, the second largest member of the GNU .
The DA has opposed the Expropriation Act , Basic Education Laws Amendment BELA Act, National Health Insurance NHI and the latest Employment Equity amendments .
Mbalula laments ANCs electoral setbackMbalula criticised the DA for challenging Employment Equity amendments in court while delivering a memorial lecture for the late ANC Secretary-General Duma Nokwe in Sedibeng, Gauteng, on Tuesday 13 May.
The misrepresentation of the Expropriation Act is evidence that the beneficiaries of apartheid will not sleep. Similarly, those who have taken us to court for advancing employment equity are working overtime to reverse the gains of our freedom, he said.
He added that the only way for the ANC to overcome this strategic setback is to win the elections with an outright majority.
However, we must not just win the elections to manage contradictions, but to ensure radical and rapid socio-economic transformation, Mbalula said.
Our people have said through the ballot that they want radical and accelerated change. As the ANC, we must listen to the masses of the people and not justify the unjustifiable.
He added that the upcoming budget must also advance transformation policies, vowing that the ANC, with that 40, will continue to implement BELA, NHI, the Expropriation Act and other legislation.