The African National Congress (ANC) is actively engaged in a “clean-up” of its own organization, a party spokesperson stated on Tuesday, pointing to ongoing commissions of inquiry as tangible proof that its internal renewal agenda is gaining traction.
The remarks were made by ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu on the sidelines of the Centenary Celebration of Dr. TT Cholo at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Soshanguve campus.
When asked about the party’s view on members testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Bhengu stated the ANC would maintain a policy of non-interference.
“We are clear as the ANC that we are going to avoid a running commentary on all those commissions so that they can [be] given space… unmediated space to do their work,” Bhengu said.
She directly linked the existence of the Madlanga Commission and a related parliamentary ad hoc committee to the party’s internal reforms. Bhengu argued that these investigative bodies would not have been established without a “strong move towards renewing the ANC.”
“In response to your question about what does this mean for the ANC and current leaders of the ANC, it means a lot,” Bhengu said. “It means actually firstly that the renewal is actually in practice and is gaining traction.”
Emphasizing the point, she declared the party is in a phase of concrete action. “Step aside policies are being affected. We are cleaning up,” Bhengu stated, adding, “Cleaning up your own mess.”
The spokesperson concluded by broadening the scope of the ANC’s efforts beyond internal politics, claiming that the renewal is also reflected in public service. “Service delivery is taking place. We’re fixing Johannesburg,” she said. “That has to count for something.”
The comments position the ANC’s much-discussed renewal project as an active “clean-up drive,” directly connecting it to high-profile accountability processes currently underway.
