The ANC is a Criminal Enterprise

The ANC is a Criminal Enterprise

By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi News

South Africa is a country blessed with potential, yet crippled by leadership failures. This truth was laid bare once again when political analyst and author, Prince Mashele, appeared on the State of the Nation podcast with Mike Sham. His words were not coated in diplomacy, but charged with the urgency of a citizen who has had enough of watching his country drift under the weight of incompetence.

Mashele’s criticism comes hot on the heels of his now-viral interview on the Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh Show, which attracted over a million views. Clearly, South Africans are listening, because he is saying what many are thinking but few dare to articulate: the ANC has lost all credibility, and President Cyril Ramaphosa is a man completely out of his depth in the highest office of the land.

A Circus Called “National Dialogue”

In the podcast, Mashele tore into the much-publicised “national dialogue” initiated by the ANC, dismissing it as nothing more than a political circus. Instead of engaging meaningfully with the crisis of unemployment, collapsing state institutions, and a faltering economy, he argued that the ANC was staging yet another empty performance. “It is not a dialogue—it is a show,” Mashele declared, underscoring the disconnection between government theatrics and the lived reality of ordinary South Africans.

Ramaphosa’s Irony of Wealth and Poverty

Perhaps the sharpest dagger came when Mashele took aim at Ramaphosa’s public musings on inequality. The President recently asked South Africans to reflect on why some people are rich while others are poor. Mashele’s response was scathing: “How dare Ramaphosa pose that question, when he himself is one of the richest men in the country?”

It was not merely a rhetorical jab—it was a moral indictment. For Mashele, Ramaphosa represents the very embodiment of South Africa’s contradictions: a leader who speaks about poverty from the comfort of his fortune, while failing to create policies that address the structural inequalities deepening the gap between rich and poor.

The ANC: From Liberation Movement to Criminal Enterprise

In perhaps the boldest statement of the conversation, Mashele described the ANC as nothing short of a criminal enterprise. His reasoning was simple: a party that presides over state capture, looting, cadre deployment, and the deliberate hollowing out of government institutions cannot be described otherwise.

This is not the ANC of liberation glory. It is a party that has cannibalised the state and betrayed the very people it once vowed to liberate. For Mashele, the ANC is no longer an organisation of visionaries; it is a network of opportunists feeding on the country’s resources while preaching empty slogans to the masses.

Why His Voice Matters

Prince Mashele has become one of the sharpest political commentators in modern South Africa, not because he speaks politely, but because he speaks plainly. His message resonates because the frustration of citizens has reached boiling point. When his interviews go viral, it’s not just entertainment—it’s a reflection of how deeply the public craves accountability and truth in a time of national despair.

South Africa stands at a crossroads. The ANC may continue to brand itself as the custodian of democracy, but voices like Mashele’s force us to confront a painful question: what happens when the custodian becomes the criminal?

https://youtu.be/FmZykqcW844?si=87O-UuLRYXnNndSF

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SACP’s Solo Bid: A Political Gamble or a Cry for Relevance

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By: Noko Mabofa Maleka | Insight Jozi News

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has made it clear: it intends to contest the 2026 municipal elections independently, breaking away from its historic alliance with the African National Congress (ANC).

In a recent conversation with SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila, I put to him the question many political observers have been quietly asking: Isn’t it too late for the Communist Party to carve its own electoral path?

After all, the SACP’s influence is deeply woven into the ANC’s political DNA. Many of its members not only carry ANC membership cards but also occupy influential positions in government, business, and ministerial offices—achievements made possible through their long-standing alignment with the governing party.

Mapaila’s answer was resolute. He argued that the SACP can no longer meaningfully advance its communist vision from within the ANC, signalling a decisive ideological break.

But while the SACP frames this move as a matter of political principle, the ANC views it with concern.

On 6 August 2024, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula told the media that the party has “tried by all means” to convince the SACP to reconsider, warning of “massive repercussions” for both organisations. He pointed to the SACP’s poor performance in recent Seshego by-elections—where the EFF claimed a sweeping victory—as an example of the risks the Communists face outside the alliance’s shelter.

When asked by SABC journalist Samkelo Maseko whether the ANC could ultimately prevent the split, Mbalula conceded that the party may no longer be able to stop the SACP from going it alone.

Pressed further by a News24 reporter on whether the SACP’s decision was influenced by perceived snubs in the Government of National Unity (GNU) cabinet allocations, Mbalula gave no definitive answer. Still, the political undercurrents are difficult to ignore.

In the GNU’s formation, the SACP’s allies in the ANC appeared sidelined, with key ministerial posts going instead to the Democratic Alliance and even to smaller, less influential parties like the Patriotic Alliance. For a movement that has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the ANC through decades of struggle and governance, this may have felt like a public slight—a diminishment of its political stature.

Some observers see the SACP’s new direction as less about ideological purity and more about a political cry for attention; a warning shot across the bow of its long-time ally that it will not be ignored. Others argue that the Communist Party’s survival now depends on proving it has genuine grassroots support, independent of the ANC brand.

If the SACP is seeking to reassert its identity and reconnect with its working-class base, breaking away may be its only path forward. But if this is a calculated bid for political relevance in the age of coalition politics, the gamble could backfire—especially if it finds itself without enough votes to shape policy or sustain a meaningful parliamentary presence.

For now, the ANC remains publicly diplomatic, but the truth is clear: a formal split will strain the Tripartite Alliance to its core and reshape South Africa’s political landscape in ways both parties may later regret.

What is certain is that in 2026, the SACP will face the ultimate test—not in conference halls or press briefings, but at the ballot box.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula to Address Nation on NEC Meeting Outcomes Today

Date: 6 August 2025
By Noko Mabofa Maleka | Insight Jozi News
www.insightjozinews.blogspot.com 

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The African National Congress (ANC) is set to host a high-profile media briefing today, Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at 11:00 AM, where Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula will address the media on the outcomes of the recent ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The briefing will take place at the Chief Albert Luthuli House in Johannesburg, the ANC’s headquarters.

This media briefing is of significant national interest as it follows a weekend-long NEC gathering where pressing issues facing both the party and the country were on the agenda. From internal party discipline to economic instability, coalition governance, and the state of service delivery in municipalities, South Africans are eager to hear what decisions were taken by the ANC’s highest decision-making body between conferences.

According to a media advisory issued by the ANC's Department of Communications, Information, and Publicity, the Secretary-General will give a comprehensive update and take questions from accredited media houses. 

The ANC NEC meeting comes at a critical time in South Africa's political landscape, with heightened public scrutiny over corruption scandals, leadership divisions, and policy direction—especially in light of growing public dissatisfaction and the shifting dynamics of coalition politics post-2024 elections.

Fikile Mbalula, known for his candid and bold approach, is expected to outline the party’s stance on recent controversies, internal disciplinary matters, and provide clarity on any leadership or structural changes within the ANC.

Key Event Details:

• Event: ANC NEC Media Briefing
• Speaker: ANC Secretary-General Cde Fikile Mbalula
• Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2025
• Time: 11:00 AM
• Venue: Chief Albert Luthuli House, Johannesburg
• Occasion: Feedback on the outcomes of the ANC NEC Meeting

This  also coincides with the ANC’s 113th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, both of which hold historic and symbolic importance for the ruling party.

Insight Jozi News , will provide key statements, and expert analysis following the briefing.

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The ANC and the Illusion of Liberation

 South Africa has been sold a lie of freedom—a meticulously crafted illusion by the architects of apartheid. The release of Nelson Mandela, once heralded as the dawn of liberation, was a calculated move by a cunning apartheid regime. Mandela was paraded globally, not as a symbol of true emancipation but as a puppet of a more sophisticated system of oppression. The apartheid government knew their crimes. And  brutality was unsustainable in the face of growing international scrutiny. They needed a new strategy—a subtler form of control that would maintain their grip on economic power while pacifying the masses with the illusion of democracy.

This strategy was executed with surgical precision. Mandela, the revered revolutionary, was systematically groomed and manipulated during his post-release world tours. By 1992, he stood at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, delivering a speech that was a far cry from his earlier socialist ideals. Overnight, the African National Congress abandoned its radical economic policies, signaling to the world that South Africa’s new leadership would play by the rules of global capitalism—a system inherently skewed in favor of the West and its historical beneficiaries.

This betrayal was the final nail in the coffin for genuine liberation. Instead of holding the architects of apartheid accountable for their crimes, the ANC extended an olive branch, preaching reconciliation to a nation that had not yet healed. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission became a stage for performative apologies, while the real perpetrators of systemic oppression walked away unscathed. The much-needed economic redress—the redistribution of land and wealth—was shelved in favor of appeasing white monopoly capital (WMC).

Today, the ANC has morphed into an entity that protects the very interests it once vowed to dismantle. It has betrayed the millions of South Africans who placed their faith in the ballot box, believing that change would come through the power of their vote. Instead, the ANC government has perfected the art of deception, selling dreams of a better tomorrow while perpetuating a system that enriches the elite few at the expense of the suffering masses.

The scars of apartheid remain deeply etched into the fabric of this nation. Land, wealth, and opportunities are still concentrated in the hands of the white minority, while the black majority languishes in poverty and unemployment. The ANC’s incompetence and corruption have only deepened these wounds. The leadership has prioritized personal enrichment over national progress, feeding off a system designed to exploit.

Moeletsi Mbeki once said that the ANC entered power in 1994 without a coherent economic strategy. For an organization that had fought for over eight decades, this was a damning indictment. It is evident that the ANC underestimated the complexity and ruthlessness of the system they sought to dismantle. Since assuming power, they have been playing catch-up, learning about governance while the architects of apartheid and global capitalism tightened their stranglehold on the economy.

The South African dream of liberation remains a mirage. The apartheid government, in its final years, masterfully transitioned into a system of neo-colonialism, where the tools of oppression are subtler but just as effective. The ANC, whether through naivety or complicity, became the gatekeepers of this system. It is now up to new movements and alliances, like the EFF and MK Party, to reignite the revolutionary spirit and challenge the status quo.

Disclaimer: Some of the views expressed in this article are personal opinions and reflections gathered from public discourse. As an independent writer, I aim to explore issues that mainstream journalism often shies away from, sparking conversations that push us closer to the truth.

By Noko Mabofa Maleka 

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Left in the Cold: Angry Pensioners Rise Against SASSA Shutdown in Johannesburg

By Noko Maleka | Insight Jozi

Johannesburg, South Africa — Outrage spilled onto the streets outside the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offices in Johannesburg today, as dozens of pensioners, the disabled, and vulnerable families gathered to protest poor service delivery.

Turned Away at the Door

By midmorning, frustrated pensioners began picketing after being turned away without receiving any assistance. Many had arrived in the early hours — some traveling long distances, others leaning on walking sticks or wheelchairs, and some carrying infants — hoping for vital support from the government.

But instead, they were told the office had already reached its daily quota of 100 people and would be offering no further help that day.

"We are human beings, not numbers," cried 69-year-old Nokuthula Dlamini, leaning on her walker. "Every time we come here, it’s the same story — ‘Come back tomorrow.’ But how many tomorrows do they expect us to survive?”

Services Cut by Noon

The SASSA office, which opens at 9:00 AM, reportedly stops seeing clients by 12:00 PM — often leaving dozens, sometimes hundreds, without any service. Officials cited staff shortages and excessive workloads as the reason for capping services at 100 people per day.

But for many waiting in the scorching sun, those excuses have become a painful routine.

“I’ve been trying for three weeks to fix my grant,” said one disabled man. “I don’t have taxi money every day. I eat once a day. How do they expect us to live?”

Police Called on Pensioners

Rather than address the crowd, SASSA officials reportedly called the police on the protesting pensioners. The move only fueled more anger.

Protesters stood firm, calling for answers and respect. Many said they were tired of being treated like a burden by a system meant to protect them.

“I’m not even here for myself,” said a young mother holding her newborn. “I’m here for my child — and they still turned us away.”

Poor Service Delivery at the Center of the Crisis

What unfolded today is more than just a backlog — it's part of a larger conversation around poor service delivery. For years, SASSA has faced criticism for inefficient systems, long wait times, and an apparent disregard for the elderly and the vulnerable.

Despite the growing number of complaints, no long-term solutions have been publicly announced. Community leaders and civil society groups have repeatedly warned that the agency’s failings are creating a humanitarian crisis.

A System Failing the Most Vulnerable

With no visible city officials, no drinking water, and no shaded waiting area, elderly citizens were left sitting on the ground in sweltering heat. Some wept. 

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Insight Jozi will continue to follow this developing story and has reached out to SASSA’s Gauteng provincial office for comment.

📢 Do you have a story about poor service delivery? Share your experience in the comments or email us at insightjozi@gmail.com