African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said on Tuesday its National Executive Committee (NEC) has resolved to establish a standing committee to investigate leaks of NEC and National Working Committee (NWC) information to journalists and third parties.

Mbalula was outlining the outcomes of the party’s most recent Special NEC meeting, where he explained that this permanent committee would conduct forensic audits of information leaks by NEC and NWC members involving internal ANC decisions and discussions.

“…and in most instances, these decisions and discussions are distorted,” he said, adding that the ANC had an “obligation and a responsibility” to defend itself against, what he termed, "distortions from faceless sources".

Mbalula explained that in investigating the leaks the party was defending its integrity.

“This committee will be implemented to defend equally the integrity of the ANC information, because the ANC speaks for itself and it does not speak through third parties,” he said.

The committee will be composed of ANC members.

“It is wrong for a faceless source, constipated with factionalism… to distort the ANC, at the highest level of the NEC. The ANC’s integrity in terms of communication is undermined by faceless sources, who have got no shame of themselves, and they are standing in the organisation. We cannot blame the media for working with faceless sources,” he said.

He stated that members of the ANC must “self-respect”.

LEADERSHIP CONTESTATION

The NEC also decided that members should not engage in leadership contestation, lobbying, or self-promotion for any position in the lead-up to the 2027 National Conference, except within the period to be determined and announced by the secretary-general.

“Any member violating this directive by engaging in unauthorised leadership contestation will face disciplinary action without hesitation; as such, behaviour that detracts from the critical work of implementing national conference resolution and our electoral manifesto will be dealt with accordingly,” stated Mbalula.

He said the NEC was firm that the party should not be drawn into premature leadership discussions, which diverted focus.

The NEC resolved to strengthen public participation and accountability by ensuring that all elected public representatives – councillors, members of Parliament and members of provincial legislatures – engaged closely and regularly with community members.

Meanwhile, the NEC noted a decline in party membership, highlighting that the renewal programme aimed to ensure that the ANC “purges and strengthens itself” to attract the best members.

Mbalula explained that the NEC reaffirmed its commitment to building authentic branches dedicated to National Democratic Revolution, rejecting transnationalism and the culture of buying membership and placing self-interest above the organisation.

The NEC considered several outstanding reports from the Integrity Commission affecting various leaders of the ANC, and accepted its recommendations.