Fikile Mbalula, the ANC secretary general, will address the media on Tuesday afternoon, just a few days after Naledi Pandor, a party veteran, slammed the party's leadership for failing the nation and losing the people's trust. The briefing will take place at the ANC’s headquarters, Luthuli House, in central Johannesburg. Mbalula would, according to the ANC, "address perspectives on current developments and various issues in the political environment," according to a statement.

Naledi Pandor, a party veteran and former International Relations minister, had harsh words for the briefing. Speaking at the centenary celebration of the late ANC Women’s League stalwart Gertrude Shope on Sunday, Pandor said South Africans now view the ANC with “disdain, horror and shame”. Pandor stated, "There is nothing worse in an organization or a nation than a leader who has no solution." We can't be asking another person, "How do we solve this?" The people are looking to us to resolve it.” Pandor criticised the current leadership, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, for failing to provide solutions and for allowing the party’s values to erode.

Pandor stated, "She (Shope) knew of the corruption that has lowered the revolutionary morality of our leaders." "She was aware of our failures at the level of local government and the insufficient capacity to serve, which is so prevalent in our public service," After the general election in May 2024, the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in South Africa's democratic history. The outcome resulted in the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU), which has since been marked by conflict between the ANC and former opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+). Pandor, who served in several Cabinet roles under successive ANC governments, warned that the party was in decline, not only in electoral terms but also in its moral and political character.

She stated, "She was keenly aware of the decline of her beloved organization - not only in electoral outcomes but also in the party's ability to reflect the values of leadership and commitment to serve the people." "Rise and reclaim the ANC's historic mission," Pandor urged ANC women. She stated, "I really hope we create value out of intergenerational co-operation" after suffering from being called an "old woman" by ANC members. “Older women have a great deal to offer, young women have a great deal to offer - and working together, we would be a strong force.” Pandor further warned against self-serving leaders who undermine the party’s revolutionary legacy. "We have forgotten that our purpose in existence is to serve the people.

We need to bring that back - by scrutinising our leaders carefully, and ensuring that if they fail in their duties, we hold them to account, no matter their position,” she said. She also called for genuine renewal and ethical leadership. “We shouldn’t be talking about renewal in abstract or conceptual terms. We need branches that treat members with respect, meet regularly, have political discussions, and let anyone join the ANC. “I believe she would say: it is possible, comrades, to arrest the slide. It is attainable for us to recover our lost glory. Additionally, we have lost our glory; let's not play it down. The people are looking at us with disdain. The people are horrified and ashamed as they look at us.