Gwede Mantashe Compares the ANC to Biblical David, South Africans Criticise His Reasoning
- Gwede Mantashe addressed community members in Virginia, Free State, days before local government elections
- The African National Congress National Chairperson discussed how the party was like David from the Bible
- His remarks drew sharp pushback online, with critics turning his own scriptural comparison against him
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Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.
FREE STATE - Gwede Mantashe has compared the African National Congress to the biblical King David, arguing that acknowledging mistakes and correcting them is central to the ANC's character.
The party's National Chairperson made the comments in the Free State on 24 October 2026, as he rallied voters ahead of the 4 November Local Government Elections.
Speaking at Meloding Community Hall in Virginia, Mantashe told community members that the ANC remained on a consistent path despite its shortcomings. He stated that the ANC was one straightforward party, saying that it could commit mistakes, correct them, make more mistakes and then correct those, but was always walking on a straight line.
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Mantashe makes biblical reference to emphasise his point
To illustrate the point, he called on the audience to reflect on the biblical David.
"Those who go to church will know of a man called David. If you read, he is doing one of the three things. He is committing a mistake or a sin. He asked for forgiveness, and he is grateful that he has been forgiven," Mantashe said.
He added that this was how the ANC behaved, saying that it commits mistakes but always seeks forgiveness. He also addressed delays in service delivery, framing them not as broken promises but as commitments that eventually come to fruition.
"If we said we're going to build houses, we build them. Sometimes we build houses, and it takes too long to put electricity in those houses. But ultimately we put in that electricity," he said.
How did South Africans react?
The speech drew a fierce response on social media, with several users rejecting the biblical comparison outright.
@LethaboTheka75 wrote:
"The biblical David is South Africans as things stand, and the ANC is the Goliath. In the end, believe me, the results will be the same. David shall triumph. 2024 showed us it is possible to bring down the mighty and arrogant."
@absurdified was equally pointed:
"You cannot compare yourself to David; you are the Philistines. Philistines were the corrupt, arrogant enemy oppressing the people. David was the underdog who stood up, called out their giant, and defeated them. The ANC doesn't get to be David."
@ProverbsSixSix questioned the timing of the admission:
"Now you want to quote the Bible. Now you want to own up to your mistakes after 32 years, just before the election? The ANC party is morally corrupt; there's no more saving the ANC. Voting ANC is hating South Africa; the ANC must fall."
@Boogy64185365 added:
"Please go study the Scripture properly, the way you went to study economics. Misappropriating the Bible to justify your corrupt and poor governance is a disgrace."
@Thembane1 said:
"ANC, humility and gratitude? Old man, respect us, please. You lot are very arrogant. You people hate us. You insult the sacrifices of South Africans who lost their lives fighting for a better South Africa. Have some shame."
Other statements Mantashe recently made that sparked comments
- Mantashe urged South Africans to be more proactive and look for jobs instead of waiting for the government.
- Mantashe questioned what he was supposed to apologise for after the ANC Women's League criticised him.
- The ANC's National Chairperson told a female ANC supporter that she owed him payback in a viral campaign video.
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Source: Briefly News
