TRANSPARENCY, efficiency, restoring unity, improving service delivery, and holding non-performing deployees accountable are some of the strategies that the recently appointed ANC KwaZulu-Natal Convenor, Jeff Radebe, is banking on to rebuild public trust and voter confidence ahead of the 2026 local government election.

Radebe was recently appointed as the provincial convenor to lead a team of 65 members with a focus on unity and rebuilding public trust after the party fell from political grace, dropping from 54% to 17% in KZN.

Since 2004, the ANC has held a majority in the province since the general election on May 29, 2024. The losses were said to have been inflicted by the emergence of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), led by former president Jacob Zuma, who was expelled from the ANC for endorsing the MK Party and later campaigning.

Radebe acknowledged the election outcome and committed to strengthening ANC branches with capable leadership and prioritising service delivery and governance to help restore confidence in the ANC.

“We have introduced a monitoring framework to track performance and hold government deployees accountable. Those failing to meet standards will be replaced with competent leaders. We will also ensure the broader Provincial Government of Unity (GPU) upholds service delivery commitments. Transparency and efficiency are key to restoring public trust,” he said.

Radebe further said that they were revitalising ANC branches through leadership training and grassroots engagement and that internal divisions are being addressed by fostering unity and accountability.

Strengthening alliances and stakeholder engagement, improving service delivery, and enhancing community outreach are priorities. These steps will ensure the ANC remains responsive to the people’s needs, he said.

With regard to fixing problems in municipalities, he said they were enforcing accountability and ensuring municipal funds were used efficiently.

“Anti-corruption measures and strong governance oversight will address financial mismanagement. Capacity-building initiatives will equip municipalities with skilled personnel for effective service delivery. The goal is to establish well-run, service-orientated local governments,” he said.

On overcoming internal divisions and factionalism, Radebe said the focus was on rebuilding ANC structures, restoring unity, and ensuring disciplined leadership.

“We are fostering inclusive leadership, engaging members in open dialogue, and addressing grievances constructively. Dismantling factionalism and enforcing organisational discipline are crucial to ensuring collective leadership. Strengthening alliances and focusing on service delivery will reinforce our commitment to the people. These measures will help rebuild trust and cohesion within the ANC,” he said.

Service delivery improvements, community engagement, and election preparedness are essential, while strengthening alliances and mobilising voters will be key strategies. “These efforts aim to secure a decisive ANC victory in 2026,” he said.

He said revitalising the ANC’s alliance with the SA Communist Party (SACP), the Congress of the South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), and the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco), as well as engaging business, civic, and religious groups, was key to reclaiming lost ground.

Radebe recently visited King Misuzulu at the KwaKhangemankengane Palace in Nongoma and highlighted the importance of ethical leadership and respect for traditional leadership.

“We are committed to working closely with traditional leaders on governance and development issues. The king emphasised the ANC’s roots in royal support, which we fully acknowledge. Strengthening this partnership will benefit the province and its people,” he said.

He further said that the king’s message reminded the ANC of its duty to lead with integrity and unity and highlighted that the king’s ancestor, King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, was named an honorary president of the party in 1912.

On the Ingonyama Trust Board and the Ithala Bank, he said while the ANC did not directly manage these institutions, they would engage stakeholders to address challenges.

“Ithala Bank is crucial for economic empowerment, and the Ingonyama Trust protects communal land rights. We recognise the King’s concerns and will advocate for solutions that ensure stability and progress. Protecting these institutions aligns with our commitment to the people of KZN,” Radebe said.

Professor Ntsikelelo Benjamin Breakfast, a political analyst and acting director of the Centre for Security, Peace, and Conflict Resolution at Nelson Mandela University, said the devil was in the detail in terms of how the ANC planned to do this.

“They have ample information, but the problem is in the implementation. The things that they are talking about — ethical leadership, transparency, accountability — are good signals of transformative leadership. But it is all talk and no action. If these were to be implemented, I am pretty sure they will bring about change,” Breakfast said.

He further said that the ANC’s challenges in KZN were very complex; there was an issue of the MK Party, which is a competition for the ANC.

“The MK Party is giving the ANC a good run for its money. This is evident with the 45% of votes obtained by the party in KZN. I don’t think the ANC is going to breach these gaps in this short space of time. Not in KZN because (former president Jacob) Zuma has caused a disruption in the politics of the ANC. However, this does not mean that they must throw their hands in the air.

“Remember, had it not been for Zuma back in 2004, the ANC would have never won the province of KZN from the IFP, which had control of the province from 1994,” the professor said.

He said when Zuma became the chairperson of the ANC, there was a change for the better, a change of heart of the people of KZN, and they voted for the ANC.

The idea of mending relations with traditional leadership is wonderful because political power in the post-colonial state comes from both the rural section of the population and the urban centres. But, at the same time, there is this Zuma factor, he said.

On the issue of the Ingonyama Trust Board, I think the ANC will try to cool off the situation there and engage with the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso. With the issue of Ithala Bank, they might try a similar method, he said.

“In KZN, traditional leaders play a role in terms of how people vote. The Zulu King’s posture is very important, so you would want him to be on your side, because if there are tensions, other political parties can exploit that. The ANC will try to be seen to be listening, but whether that is going to bring a change for the better or not is another topic,” Breakfast said.