IN MY VIEW | Stakes are high for ANC if it fails to find the path to effective reform

The ANC’s internal turmoil, as reflected in the Eastern Cape conference, exemplifies the Nietzschean concept of “decadence”. When an institution’s primary focus shifts from its founding ideals to internecine power struggles, it signals a collapse of purpose. The organisation’s inability to self-regulate mirrors the broader societal concern — if those tasked with governance cannot manage their own affairs, how can they claim to steward the collective good.

The crisis of internal governance is a manifestation of what Hannah Arendt terms “the banality of leadership”, where the pursuit of power becomes an end in itself, rather than means to serve. The ANC’s predicament is a synecdoche for a larger crisis of political legitimacy, where institutions are hollowed out by petty squabbles, losing sights of their raison d’être. The organisation’s founding principles, rooted in the struggle against the apartheid system, emphasised unity, equality and the pursuit of social justice.

However, the current factionalism and power struggles suggest a departure from these ideals. This raises questions about the nature of institutional identity and whether the ANC can reclaim its original purpose. The consequences of this internal decay are far–reaching.

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As the ANC’s internal dynamics deteriorate, public trust in governance wanes. This creates a vicious cycle where the organisation’s inability to govern effectively fuels further disillusionment and disengagement. In this context, the ANC’s situation serves as a cautionary tale for institutions everywhere.

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