So you're wondering what is African National Congress? Honestly, I had the same question when I first visited Johannesburg years back. My Airbnb host slammed his coffee cup down saying "These ANC guys..." and spent twenty minutes ranting about electricity cuts. That's when I realized this isn't just some political party - it's woven into daily life here. Let me break it down for you without the textbook jargon.
The Raw Basics: ANC in 30 Seconds
At its core, the African National Congress (ANC) is South Africa's ruling political party since 1994. But calling it just a party is like calling the Grand Canyon a ditch. Born in 1912, it started as a movement fighting racial segregation. Nelson Mandela made it globally famous during apartheid, and today it governs one of Africa's biggest economies.
Quick reality check: When locals debate "what is African National Congress today?", you'll hear two extremes. Some call it liberation heroes turned corrupt. Others say it's still the only party representing Black South Africans. Both views have truth - we'll unpack that.
From Underground Movement to Governing Party
Imagine this: January 8, 1912. A group of lawyers, journalists and tribal leaders meet in a Bloemfontein church. Apartheid hasn't even been formally established yet, but they see the storm coming. That's how the ANC began - as the South African Native National Congress (renamed ANC in 1923).
Back then, their tactics were petitions and delegations. Painfully polite, right? I've seen their early letters to British authorities - all "Your Honorable Excellency" while protesting land theft. Didn't work. By the 1940s, young radicals like Mandela pushed for mass protests. Then came apartheid laws in 1948.
Turning Point Moments
- 1943 - Adopts the African Claims document, demanding full citizenship rights (sound familiar?)
- 1955 - Freedom Charter drafted declaring "South Africa belongs to all who live in it"
- 1960 - Banned after Sharpeville massacre, goes underground
- 1961 - Forms armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) - "Spear of the Nation"
Mandela's 1964 "I am prepared to die" speech during the Rivonia Trial? That sealed the ANC's global image as freedom fighters. What many don't know: While Mandela was on Robben Island, exiled leaders ran operations from Zambia and Tanzania. I've met veterans who trained in Soviet camps - their stories would fill three books.
How the ANC Actually Runs Things
Okay, let's get practical. If you're asking "what is African National Congress" structurally, picture three pillars:
| Structure | Function | Who's in Charge Now |
|---|---|---|
| National Executive Committee (NEC) | Top 80 leaders making major decisions | Cyril Ramaphosa (President) |
| Provincial Structures | Governs South Africa's 9 provinces | Premiers like Panyaza Lesufi (Gauteng) |
| Alliance Partners | Power-sharing with unions and communists | COSATU & SACP leaders |
Their famous Tripartite Alliance with labor unions (COSATU) and communists (SACP) creates constant tension. At a township meeting I attended, union leaders shouted down ANC officials over wage disputes. Strange bedfellows indeed.
Policy Making: The Good, Bad and Ugly
On paper, ANC policies sound noble:
- National Democratic Revolution (NDR) - creating non-racial democracy
- Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) - housing and services
- Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) - redressing economic inequality
But here's the kicker: Implementation often fails. I've seen RDP houses with collapsing roofs six months after construction. BEE sometimes enriches politically connected insiders rather than masses. Not all bad though - their HIV/AIDS treatment program saved millions of lives after initial denialism.
ANC Today: Glory Days or Decline?
Let's be real: The ANC isn't what it was in 1994. In recent elections, their national vote share dropped below 50% for the first time (2024 local election results show 46.5% support). Why?
| Criticism | Evidence | ANC Response |
|---|---|---|
| Corruption Scandals | State Capture Inquiry findings (2022) | "Bad apples" defense while prosecuting some |
| Service Delivery Failures | Daily power cuts ("load shedding") | Blames apartheid infrastructure |
| Factional Battles | Public spats between Ramaphosa and RET faction | Calls for unity while purging rivals |
During Cape Town's 2023 water crisis, I watched ANC councilors and opposition DA members almost come to blows. The toxic polarization makes governance impossible sometimes.
Financial Muscle: Where Money Flows
You can't understand what is African National Congress without seeing their finances. As governing party, funding sources include:
- State funding allocation: R142 million/year (approx $7.6M)
- Business donations: Mining and energy companies dominate
- Membership fees: R20/month ($1) from estimated 700,000 members
Problem is, the 2021 Zondo Commission exposed how state contracts were routinely diverted to fund ANC activities. One witness described bags of cash delivered to party headquarters. Not exactly textbook democracy.
Why People Still Vote ANC Despite Everything
Western observers get baffled: "Why keep voting for them?" Having interviewed township voters, three themes emerge:
- Liberation Legacy - "They freed us" (Elder in Soweto)
- Fear of Change - "DA will bring back apartheid" (Unemployed youth in Durban)
- Patronage Networks - "My ANC councilor gets me a RDP house" (Mother in Eastern Cape)
It's emotional. I've seen people weep at Mandela memorials while cursing current ANC leaders. That psychological bond outlasts poor service delivery.
ANC vs Opposition: Who's Who
To fully grasp what is African National Congress, see them in relation to rivals:
| Party | Ideology | Base Support | Threat Level to ANC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Alliance (DA) | Liberal capitalist | White/mixed-race middle class | Medium (22% national vote) |
| Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) | Radical left | Young Black working class | High (gaining urban youth) |
| Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) | Zulu nationalist | Rural KwaZulu-Natal | Regional threat |
The real danger? Former ANC members dominate opposition leadership. EFF's Julius Malema was ANC Youth League leader. That insider knowledge hurts.
Brutally Honest ANC Assessment
After years observing South African politics, my take has nuance:
- Positives: Maintained constitutional democracy, peaceful transitions, welfare expansion
- Negatives: Systemic corruption, failing SOEs, crime explosion
What surprises outsiders? The ANC still has brilliant minds. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's 2023 budget saved South Africa from debt crisis. But talent is overshadowed by incompetents appointed through factional loyalty.
Here's the paradox: The ANC both liberated and trapped South Africa. Their greatest achievement (ending apartheid) became an unassailable moral shield. Criticism gets dismissed as "undermining liberation." That defensive posture prevents real reform.
Your Top Questions About African National Congress Answered
Is the ANC communist?
Not officially, but they govern in alliance with the South African Communist Party (SACP). Many ANC leaders are SACP members. Policy leans toward state intervention but avoids full collectivism.
Who funds the African National Congress?
Three main streams: state funding based on election performance, private donations (often from businesses seeking contracts), and membership fees. The 2021 Political Party Funding Act increased transparency after scandals.
How is the ANC different from apartheid?
Fundamentally democratic vs racist autocracy. But critics note parallels: cronyism, security state tendencies, and racial essentialism in policies like BEE. ANC rejects this comparison as offensive.
Can the ANC lose power?
Increasingly possible. Their 2024 election result (40% in some polls) may force coalition governance. But total ouster? Unlikely soon due to rural strongholds and liberation loyalty.
What does ANC stand for besides the party name?
African National Congress reflects pan-Africanist roots. "Congress" signals its founding as broad coalition, not vanguard party. Ironically, internal democracy has weakened over time.
The Future: My Take After 15 Years Watching
Three possible paths forward for the ANC:
- Reform scenario: Ramaphosa purges corrupt elements, regains trust
- Decline scenario: Gradually loses majority, becomes junior coalition partner
- Breakup scenario: Splits into moderate vs radical factions by 2030
Personally? I've become skeptical about reform. Too many patronage networks exist. But writing off the ANC is foolish - they've survived banning, imprisonment, exile. Their resilience is underestimated.
Ultimately, understanding what is African National Congress means recognizing its duality: liberation hero and flawed ruler. Whether it can transcend this contradiction will determine South Africa's future.
If you're researching for academic or professional reasons, I recommend cross-referencing with SA History Online archives. And if you visit, skip the tourist spots - attend a community meeting. That's where the real ANC story unfolds.