The African National Congress (ANC) is set to deliver its January 8 Statement amid significant political pressures, as highlighted by analyst Dr. Levy Ndou. The party will mark its 114th anniversary at Moruleng Stadium in the North West province. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to outline priorities focused on the 2026 local government elections.
The African National Congress (ANC) approaches its annual January 8 Statement with a sense of urgency, according to political analyst Dr. Levy Ndou. Speaking ahead of the event, Ndou noted that this year's address will differ markedly from past ones due to escalating political and governance challenges facing the party.
The celebrations coincide with the ANC's 114th anniversary, scheduled for next Saturday at Moruleng Stadium in the North West province. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is slated to present the party's key priorities for 2026, emphasizing efforts to regain support ahead of the local government elections later that year.
Ndou stressed the importance of addressing local issues during the event. He pointed to ongoing problems in North West municipalities, particularly around service delivery, which residents are eager to see resolved. "The ANC, in my view, must therefore be able to develop a general program that must talk to all the members of the ANC and the ordinary citizens at large in terms of what is it that the ANC has in store for them in 2026," Ndou said. He added that the party's upcoming policy conference should clarify strategies for the elections, allowing the National Executive Committee to communicate these to supporters.
This statement comes at a pivotal time for the ANC, as it seeks to rebuild public confidence and improve governance. Ndou suggested using the anniversary platform to outline concrete plans for tackling municipal challenges in the region.