African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing political party and a liberation movement that played the central role in ending apartheid. Founded in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress, it is the oldest liberation movement on the African continent. The ANC was banned by the apartheid government in 1960 following the Sharpeville massacre, forcing it to operate underground and in exile for three decades. During this period, it waged an armed struggle through its military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, whilst maintaining diplomatic and political campaigns internationally. The organisation was unbanned in 1990, paving the way for negotiations that led to South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. Under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, the ANC won that election with a substantial majority and has governed South Africa continuously since then. The party's ideology is rooted in the Freedom Charter, adopted in 1955, which calls for a non-racial, democratic South Africa with nationalisation of key industries. Cyril Ramaphosa has served as ANC president since 2017 and as South Africa's president since 2018. The ANC's electoral dominance has declined in recent years, falling below 50% for the first time in the 2024 national elections, leading to the formation of a Government of National Unity. The party faces ongoing challenges including internal factionalism, corruption allegations and declining public confidence in its ability to deliver services and economic growth.
African National Congress Updates
Treasury says upgrades show path to investment grade 
By: Bloomberg 12th June 2026 South Africa’s recent credit-rating upgrades are a strong endorsement of government policy and show the nation can restore its coveted... →
South Africa’s anti‑migrant campaigns use the language of democracy: why that’s dangerous
10th June 2026 Anti-migrant campaigns in South Africa are increasingly being framed as acts of community protection. Protesters present their efforts as a... →
Lex Libertas urges Ambassador Roelf Meyer to present honest account of South Africa’s crisis in Washington
4th June 2026 The South Africa-based think tank and advocacy group, Lex Libertas, has addressed an open letter to South Africa’s newly appointed Ambassador to... →
Daily Podcast – April 30, 2026
30th April 2026 April 30, 2026 For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is Polity's daily news podcast. →
ActionSA confident CoJ will be governed through coalition after election, hits back at DA
By: Thabi Shomolekae 24th April 2026 ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni on Friday expressed confidence that the City of Johannesburg will be governed through a... →
DA calls for immediate suspension of arrested Ekurhuleni municipal manager
By: Thabi Shomolekae 20th April 2026 Ahead of the court appearance of Ekurhuleni municipal manager Kagiso Lerutla, the Democratic Alliance wants Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza... →
Ramaphosa defends appointment of ‘patriotic’ Meyer to ‘recalibrate’ US relations
By: Thabi Shomolekae 15th April 2026 Despite backlash at his appointment of Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s ambassador to the US, President Cyril Ramaphosa has doubled down on his... →
Musk row shows gap with Ramaphosa in South Africa equity rules
By: Bloomberg 15th April 2026 President Cyril Ramaphosa said billionaire Elon Musk could use equity-equivalence programmes to meet South Africa’s racial-equity rules and roll... →
EFF wants newly appointed Roelf Meyer removed as US ambassador
By: Thabi Shomolekae 15th April 2026 The Economic Freedom Fighters on Wednesday called for the rescinding of Roelf Meyer’s appointment as South Africa’s ambassador to the US, claiming... →
Ramaphosa appoints Roelf Meyer as next ambassador to US
By: Reuters 14th April 2026 President Cyril Ramaphosa has chosen Roelf Meyer, a former chief government negotiator during talks to end white minority rule in the 1990s, to be... →
