The ANC leadership in the Free State will not be dissolved or restructured despite ongoing challenges in the province. However, tensions are reportedly escalating within the party's top ranks.

This past weekend, the ANC's national working committee visited the Free State as part of its efforts to strengthen party structures and enhance governance. The visit comes at a critical time, with increasing pressure on the province to improve service delivery and regain public trust ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

In the 2024 national and provincial elections, the ANC secured 52.88 percent of the vote in the Free State, a notable decline from the 62.94 percent it achieved in 2019.

Speaking ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's arrival at the Windmill Casino in Bloemfontein, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri emphasized that the visit is intended to strengthen party structures rather than dismantle them. She stated that this effort is part of the ANC's renewal and rebuilding process.

Bhengu-Motsiri dismissed speculation that leadership changes were on the table. She clarified that the visit was not about disbanding the provincial executive committee but about assessing the state of the structures and finding ways to reinforce their work. The current leadership of the ANC in the Free State remains intact, with Mxolisi Dukwana as chairperson, Toto Ketso Makume as deputy chairperson, Polediso Hubert Motsoeneng as provincial secretary, Dibolelo Mahlatsi as deputy provincial secretary, and Mathabo Leeto as provincial treasurer.

She further explained that the visit also aims to evaluate governance and improve service delivery in the province. The assessment focuses on ensuring that municipalities function efficiently and deliver services more effectively. A municipality-by-municipality review is set to take place to identify governance shortcomings and address service delivery challenges.

On Monday, the committee planned to examine any issues undermining governance or party unity in the Free State. Bhengu-Motsiri stated that they would assess any factors weakening governance, particularly in ANC-led municipalities. She emphasized that there was no agenda to dissolve or disband leadership structures and that the goal was to reinforce and strengthen them.

Acknowledging concerns about the performance of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, she noted that urgent discussions were necessary to resolve ongoing issues. She said they would closely examine what is happening in Mangaung and other regions to address threats to the ANC's ability to implement its election manifesto.

She also stressed the need for decisive action, highlighting that the ANC has established a local government intervention task team to tackle these challenges. If ANC deployees are failing, she stated that it is the party's duty to rectify the situation in the interest of Free State residents.

While attention remains on the Free State, reports suggest that internal political maneuvering may be unfolding at Luthuli House, the ANC's national headquarters. According to the Sunday Times, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula is allegedly using his position to sideline certain party members, a move believed to be part of a broader strategy to boost his prospects for the ANC presidency ahead of the 2027 national conference.

Speculation suggests that Mbalula's reported efforts to dissolve the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provincial executive committees are politically motivated. Both provinces are said to support Deputy President Paul Mashatile as President Ramaphosa's successor.

With these developments unfolding, the question remains whether the ANC is experiencing an internal power struggle that could shape the party's future leadership.