-
ANC members and supporters hold party flags in anticipation of January 8 Statement, 10 Jan 2026.
African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa says the party is not dying and will bounce back.
He was speaking during his delivery of the January Eighth Statement at Moruleng Stadium outside Rustenburg.
The ANC lost its majority in the 2024 national elections and there are fears in some quarters that it could dip further in the 2026 local government polls.
WATCH | ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says: “We are going to be around for another 114 years as the ANC, whether they like it or not. The ANC is here to stay.” pic.twitter.com/BsaYtotBYw
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 10, 2026
Currently the ANC is in a Government of National Unity (GNU) with nine parties.
There are also fears that its electoral fortunes will be worse now with its ally the South African Communist Party (SACP) has decided to participate independently in future polls.
But Ramaphosa says the ANC is here to stay. “Many have not wished us well they have continued to say the ANC is going to die. They have continued to say we are now facing the last years of existence of the ANC. They have said this in the entire 114 years, and we are still around. We are going to be around for the next 114 years as the ANC – whether they like it or not the ANC is here to stay.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkxOlSnRZxs
With local elections few months away, the ANC has declared 2026 as the year of decisive action to revive the local government and transform the economy.
Ramaphosa says communities can no longer tolerate apathetic local government.
“We cannot accept dysfunctional, apathetic, uncaring local government. we cannot accept an economy that only works for the few. We cannot bow our heads and accept defeat. Our forebears demonstrated the bravery 114 years ago. We, therefore declare 2026 as the year of decisive action to fix local government and transform the economy.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq047Fu0SGo
