THE recent event at Ohlange High School in Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal to commemorate the legacy of Dr Langalibalele Mafukuzela Dube was timely and appropriate. Dube was born on 22 February 1871 and died on 11 February 1946. The event of 15 February 2025 marked the 79th commemoration of his passing.

Because Dube was elected in absentia to be the first president of the ANC when the organization was formed in Bloemfontein in 1912, the annual January 8 Statement gives this month of February more traction. However, the fact that this year's commemorative event took place following the ANC's worst performance in the general election in May 2024 for a variety of reasons that are an indictment of the current leadership marked a significant difference. It also came after one of the ANC’s leaders (former President Jacob Zuma) formed the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) which embarrassed the ANC at the polls. Langa Dube, Dr.

Dube's grandson, made the unprecedented announcement at this year's event that ANC MK veterans will launch a campaign to reintegrate former MK comrades into the ailing ANC. The campaign will be co-led by Langa Dube who expressed his determination to approach MKP members (including former President Zuma) to reason with them.Calling for dialogue, Dube argued that “it is obvious that mistakes within the ANC can be corrected.” Dube went on to state that “as time goes on, there would be ironing out of the issues that made Msholozi join MKP.” Whether these wishes are indeed feasible or not remains the subject of debate.A few things are worth pursuing in this historic announcement. Firstly, Langa Dube has worked with many MK cadres who are now members of MKP.

He has vast experience working in the ANC’s underground structures since 1985. Moreover, as Dr Dube’s grandson and a long-serving member of the movement, Dube has maintained close ties with the ANC and its structures. Consequently, he is equally concerned about the current ANC's condition and its declining support. Secondly, ironically, Gwede Mantashe who is the ANC’s National Chairperson poured water on what appeared to be a progressive and rational proposal although clouded by uncertainty. Mantashe warned that diverting from the ANC’s pathway would betray Dr Langalibalele’s legacy. Responding to Langa’s proposal, he averred that “If Langa diverts from the line, we will tell him another party does not belong to your family.�

�� Implicit in his statement was the view that engaging the MKP would not be necessary since it is another party, not the ANC. However, if Mantashe is truly concerned about not betraying Dr. Langalibalele Dube's legacy, why is he not concerned about the ANC's separation from the country's populace? Why is he not concerned about the fact that the African National Congress (ANC) has abandoned the concept of collective responsibility? Why was the ANC silent when President Ramaphosa complained about the so-called ‘nine wasted years’ under Zuma’s leadership? Despite the fact that there was no "special" ANC policy conference that gave Ramaphosa a different mandate, the ANC remained silent when Ramaphosa promised the nation and the world that he was coming with "the new dawn" as he finished Zuma's term.

In other words, has Dr Dube’s legacy not already been betrayed by the ANC? Intriguingly, during his address, Mantashe urged the youth to emulate Dr Dube who was a humble and selfless leader who was always accessible to the people he served. Could the same be said of the current leadership of the ANC? Does it pay attention to its members? Does it listen to the electorate? If it does, how does one explain the ANC’s downward spiral in each election? Thirdly, Siboniso Duma, who is the ANC Coordinator, in KZN seemed to be agreeing with Langa Dube on the need to unify the ANC. Unlike Mantashe, Duma recalled Dube’s promise to bring back to the ANC’s fold MKP members who left the party due to disgruntlement on how the ANC is being led.

In his view, Dube’s sentiments reflected a recognition of past mistakes and a hope for reconciliation as the ANC continues to face ongoing challenges and dissatisfaction within its ranks. This was a rational and honest analysis of the ANC’s current situation. The wounds the party is licking are self-inflicted. In part, they are caused by political arrogance, myopic analysis of very serious matters, failure to self-correct, dismissal of constructive criticism, and leadership deficit. Fourthly, speaking at the same event, former KZN Premier Willies Mchunu who is now the provincial convener of the MKP articulated the frustration of many South Africans who were once loyal to the ANC. He accused the ANC of leaning towards neoliberal policies which do not benefit the masses of South Africa.

Mchunu promised that should MK veterans approach him, he would debate with them what it means to change the ANC. The answer to this question is not as simple as it looks. It will depend on a cogent analysis of what has been happening in the ANC in recent years, what some ANC leaders have articulated in public and what they have done thus far. Importantly, the answer will also depend on whether the ANC leadership sees and concedes that the party is collapsing before their eyes.

The main question which begs for attention is whether such reintegration is feasible when the ANC has not resolved its factionalism.

For example, would those who have a vendetta against Zuma be amenable even to the idea of engaging him? Would Ramaphosa’s cheerleaders reason with him for the party’s unity? I doubt it!