Senzo Mchunu’s 2026 election warning: The ANC faces political irrelevance
ANC NEC member Senzo Mchunu
The ANC is standing on a precipice, and if urgent corrective measures are not taken, the party could soon find itself tumbling into political irrelevance. This was the sobering message delivered by suspended police minister and ANC NEC member Senzo Mchunu during a gathering in Ngwavuma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, at the tombstone unveiling of struggle stalwart Nokuhamba Nyawo.
Mchunu, who is currently on special leave over corruption allegations, did not address his personal controversies. Instead, he turned the spotlight firmly onto the ANC, warning that the 2026 local government elections will be decisive in shaping the party’s future.
“If we do not win municipalities in the upcoming local government elections, come the national government elections we will be history.”
Drawing a vivid comparison, Mchunu said the ANC was like a person walking on the edge of a cliff – one wrong step away from a devastating fall.
Admitting Past Mistakes
In an unusually frank admission, Mchunu conceded that the party had grown “big-headed” and complacent, taking the loyalty of South Africans for granted. That arrogance, he said, was directly punished by the electorate. Still, he struck a hopeful note, insisting there was time to rebuild bridges, regain public trust and even recruit back disillusioned members who had defected to other political parties.
A Reluctance for Coalitions
His concerns were echoed by KwaZulu-Natal ANC co-ordinator Mike Mabuyakhulu, who acknowledged the party’s declining dominance but maintained that the ANC could recover. He made it clear that the ANC wants to govern alone, rather than rely on coalition arrangements with the IFP or DA, both of whom he bluntly described as “rivals”.
“To be in a coalition with the IFP and DA does not mean they are friends – they are rivals,” Mabuyakhulu stressed. He added that the ANC must accept responsibility for its own decline and work harder than ever to earn back the trust of the people.
Symbolism and Legacy
For ANC members in the Nokuhamba Nyawo region, the upcoming elections hold symbolic weight as well. Regional leader Verus Ncamphalala declared their aim was nothing less than a clean sweep at the polls, which he framed as a tribute to Nyawo’s legacy.
A Party at the Crossroads
The ANC’s fate is now firmly tied to how it performs in the local government elections next year. Failure to retain key municipalities would not only weaken its grassroots support but could pave the way for defeat in the 2029 national elections.
Mchunu’s warning was both candid and urgent: the ANC cannot afford to keep alienating its base. Whether the party can regroup and mount a genuine comeback – or whether it is already too late – remains one of the defining questions of South African politics today.
