ANCYL Vows to Push ANC to Act on Underperforming Members Before 2026 Election, SA Says It’s Too Late
- The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) will push to restore trust in the party before the 2026 elections
- The ANCYL also called for the removal of all Democratic Alliance ministers who refused to implement the president's resolutions
- South Africans weighed in on the ANCYL's statement and its plans to push the ANC to hold underperforming members accountable
Source: Twitter
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG – No municipality run by the African National Congress (ANC) should be outperformed by those led by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
That’s according to Collen Malatji, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president, who weighed in on the recent comments made by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa told over 4,000 councillors gathered at a Roll Call event that DA-led municipalities often outperformed those run by the ANC. The president used the City of Cape Town and Stellenbosch as examples of this, noting that those municipalities always achieved clean audits.
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The DA were thrilled by the president's comments, with Helen Zille even making fun of it.
Youth League to put pressure on ANC
Speaking during a media briefing after its National General Council (NGC) in Johannesburg on 19 September 2025, Malatji said that this should be the case. He added that the Youth League would push the party to act against underperforming mayors and councillors. Malatji said this was part of a broader effort to restore public trust in the ANC ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
“You must always be better than them. There can’t be municipalities of the ANC that are performing below municipalities of the DA,” he said.
He added that while he believed the media was taking the president’s comments out of context, it may be a good thing, as it put pressure on the party to perform.
“The president has put in place that no municipality of the ANC must perform below a municipality of the DA, because we have presented ourselves in society as being the best in society,” he said.
ANCYL calls for the removal of DA ministers
During the NGC, Malatji also stated that they would be calling for the removal of all DA ministers who are refusing to implement the resolutions and instructions of the president.
He said that the ANCYL had noted that the DA was in government with the ANC but still acting as an opposition.
You can view his full statement below.
How did South Africans react to Malatji’s comments?
Social media users were amused by Malatji’s statement, with many saying that the ANC were only waking up now because elections were coming up.
Pearl Black joked:
“Always planning, but dololo capacity😑🤣.”
Khaya Khahlela stated:
“Speech and addresses, imbizos and meetings, that's the capacity of the ANC💀.”
Michael Nkosi noted:
“😂This behaviour. It's like teenagers cleaning after having a house party, and their parents are coming back.”
Theo Jabulani stated:
“It’s too late, Papa; the damage is already done. Ask your president. He knows well.”
Jaybee Lekgolokoe added:
“A party of pensioners and thieves.”
Phutty Ramms said:
“The ANCYL is no longer relevant, just like their mother body, the ANC.”
Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela pledges to fight Illiteracy with new campaign
Meanwhile Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has vowed to launch a national literacy campaign. Speaking at an International Literacy Day event in Carletonville on Saturday, 20 September 2025, Manamela said that South Africa is facing high levels of illiteracy.
Manamela raised concerns about the growing number of South Africans who are functionally illiterate. He said that urgent intervention is needed. The 2030 Reading Panel report revealed that eight out of ten Grade 3 learners in South Africa are unable to read for meaning in any language, including their mother tongue.
Earlier this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa admitted that the legacy of Bantu education under apartheid still has a major impact on literacy levels.
Ramaphosa clarifies comments about the DA
Briefly News reported that Ramaphosa also explained his previous comments about the DA.
The president clarified to the SABC that he didn't necessarily mean the DA was good at service delivery.
South Africans weighed in on Ramaphosa's latest statement, saying it was too late for damage control.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
