ANC Slams Senzo Mchunu and Malusi Gigaba for Statements Against the Party

• The African National Congress (ANC) has lambasted members Senzo Mchunu and Dr Malusi Gigaba for their recent statements
• In an interview, Gigaba pointed out that the party is losing direction, and Mchunu echoed similar sentiments
• South Africans disagreed with the ANC and supported Mchunu and Gigaba's diagnoses of the party's condition

With over seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News, Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist, offered insights into South African politics, national, provincial, and local governance, the Government of National Unity, political parties, and Parliament.

JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG — The African National Congress (ANC) slammed National Executive Committee (NEC) members Senzo Mchunu and Dr Malusi Gigaba on 18 August 2025 for their recent perspectives on the party's condition.

The party's spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, issued a statement condemning Gigaba and Mchunu's statements. In an interview published on 17 August, Gigaba, who is the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence, said that the NEC had lost its way and maintained that the party should have excluded the Democratic Alliance from the Government of National Unity, which was formed in June 2024 after the general elections.

Mchunu, who President Cyril Ramaphosa placed on special leave, said on 16 August in Ngwavuma, KwaZulu-Natal, that the party is on the verge of collapse. He said that the 2026 local government elections will determine the party's fate.

What did the ANC say?

The party posted Bhengu's statements on its @MYANC X account. In the statements, the party accused Mchunu and Gigaba of flagrantly violating the party's internal communication protocols and undemine its discipline. She said that their remarks are an assault on the ANC's collective image and credibility.

"The ANC will take the necessary steps to correct this behaviour and no comrade will be exempt from the discipline of the organisation, which demands unity, discipline and revolutionary morality from all," she said.

Read the X statement here:

What did South Africans say?

Netizens commenting on X slammed the ANC.

In a Nutshell said:

"The problem with the ANC is that they want to silence people for telling the obvious: there's no unity, no vision, no credibility left."

Vha Mabunda aid:

"We have serious issues as a country. We have no time for your nonsense anymore."

Oriana said:

"Don't involve us in your shenanigans."

FactOverFear said:

"Truth hurts, and we've been saying that the ANC is on the verge of collapse."

MDS said:

"Your chickens are coming home to roost. All of them. At once."

Malusi Gigaba calls for National Dialogue postponement

In another article, Briefly News reported that Gigaba called for a postponement of the National Dialogue. He spoke two days before the dialogue began on 15 August. Gigaba said that the party had not produced a discussion document to offer as part of its participation.

Gigaba said that if the ANC had a discussion document, the dialogue would have been more fruitful. He added that the ANC was keen to ensure that the process does not become a talk shop.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News