ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has announced that the preparations for the party's 5th National General Council (NGC) are going smoothly.

The ANC's 5th National General Council (NGC), set to take place from December 8-12, 2025, will focus heavily on organisational renewal and ethical leadership.

This agenda was announced by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula on Monday at a media briefing to discuss the party's readiness for the important gathering of NEC members.

The NGC is a vital forum for assessing the ANC's progress and its future strategic direction.

The five-day event will be held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, where the party's top brass is expected to map out some of its key policies flowing from the last ANC elective conference.

It comes at a time when some of the regional structures are preparing for their regional conference, with some key regions yet to hold their conferences.

At the weekend, Mbalula indicated that all regional structures have been directed to conclude their conferences before the NGC, with Johannesburg and Tshwane set to hold theirs from Wednesday to Friday.

On Sunday, regions and branches met in Cape Town to discuss their report to the NGC, after the party's NEC reconfigured the Western Cape's provincial leadership in an attempt to offset further electoral decline ahead of the next local government elections.

Mbalula said the party has improved its coordination between various local and provincial structures, which has contributed to smooth preparations. 

"Preparations for the NGC are at an advanced stage with all logistical arrangements aligned to the directive of the National Executive Committee. The ANC is fully ready to host the delegates, stakeholders, and observers... Coordination between national and provincial structures has improved significantly," he said.

Mbalula, flanked by the party's national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, addressed the media after a one-day ANC NEC meeting, saying the upcoming five-day NGC will prioritise the party's renewal and governance issues.

According to Mbalula, the NGC's agenda includes evaluating the progress of organisational renewal, government performance, socio-economic reconstruction, and the execution of key resolutions adopted at the 22nd national conference. He emphasised that "A special focus will be placed on governance, especially local government interventions and economic strengthening of the ANC in communities."

The ANC, through Mbalula, expressed encouragement following President Cyril Ramaphosa's Sunday address, which reported on the recent G20 Summit.

"We welcome the president's address to the nation last night, particularly its focus on renewal and stability," Mbalula stated.

He added that Ramaphosa's message is consistent with the spirit in which the ANC is approaching the NGC and "reinforced confidence in the country's direction and the ANC leadership role in ensuring a better life for all."

The NGC logistics have been simplified, according to Mbalula, due to the party's recently improved financial health. This improvement follows a prolonged period of financial difficulty, which had led to various issues, including repeated delays in paying employees.

Mbalula affirmed: "As previously stated, the ANC has stabilised its financial situation and is making significant strides in meeting its operational obligations. The organisation's finances are getting better, bolstered by stronger systems, better compliance, and renewed donor confidence."

*This article was first published by IOL News