Why the ANC NEC Lekgotla matters ahead of local elections

The African National Congress (ANC) has begun a three-day National Executive Committee (NEC) Lekgotla in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, bringing together senior party representatives from across the country at a politically significant moment ahead of this year’s local government elections.

According to reporting by Busi Chimombe, the meeting is being attended by ANC leaders deployed in government as ministers, deputy ministers, premiers and executive mayors. The stated task of the Lekgotla is to put in place a working plan to implement the six priorities outlined in the party’s January 8 Statement, delivered in the North West province about two weeks ago as reported by sabcnews.

The ANC’s January 8 Statement typically sets the party’s priorities for the year. In this case, the NEC Lekgotla is positioned as the forum where those priorities are translated into practical steps that can be carried through by deployees operating in national, provincial and local government structures.

The timing matters because the party itself frames the gathering as a crucial meeting ahead of local government elections expected later this year. Local elections place renewed focus on governance at municipal level, where communities often assess performance through visible service delivery and infrastructure outcomes.

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula signalled that municipal delivery issues will be part of the discussions, pointing to what he described as a disconnect between available funding and conditions on the ground.

His comments highlight a key issue the party says it wants to address: why money allocated for municipal infrastructure has not been fully utilised, even as residents continue to experience problems such as poor road conditions.

Mbalula added that discussions would extend beyond infrastructure delivery into the broader challenge of improving local government performance and economic outcomes.

“So those are the things we’re going to address and therefore, fixing local government, the economy,” he said.

He also referenced provincial inequality and the state of implementation of the ANC’s industrialisation programme and job creation agenda, suggesting the Lekgotla will assess how far the party has progressed on policy commitments that have been presented publicly through its manifesto.