This was the warning from Northern Cape premier and ANC chairperson Zamani Saul, during the organisation’s 114th anniversary celebration.

Saul delivered the keynote address at the Mapoteng Community Hall in Kathu-Sishen on Sunday (22/3), calling on members to rise above internal divisions and defend the interests of the people.

He urged all structures of the ANC to suspend personal agendas and focus on the 2026 local government elections under the theme: “The year of decisive action to fix local government and transform the economy.”

Three biggest threats

Central to his message was a stark warning about what he described as the three biggest threats to unity within the organisation.

“Do comrades know what the biggest threat in the organisation is? Its three things, these three things are the biggest threat in the organisation. Number one, it’s abuse of power by elected leaders, that is the threat to unity. Members sit back and look at this leader and say we have not elected you to abuse and misuse your power. We’ve elected you to use your power to improve our lot, not to improve yourself.”

Saul emphasised that when leaders misuse their authority, it creates resentment among members and weakens organisational cohesion.

“As soon as there is abuse of power, unity gets threatened,” he said.

He further identified gossip and lies as another corrosive force, particularly when it originates from those in leadership positions.

Gossip and lies, he noted, may seem trivial when coming from ordinary members, but become far more dangerous when spread by individuals entrusted with power, as they can distort truth and deepen divisions within the movement.

Role of money in politics

The third major concern raised by Saul was the role of money in internal politics. He painted a troubling picture of an organisation struggling financially while some of its deployed leaders accumulate significant personal wealth.

The ANC in the Northern Cape celebrating the party's 114th anniversary: Photo: Facebook.

“The ANC is broke but comrades who are deployed to strategic possessions like premiers, MECs, HODs, mayors, municipal managers and executives in our municipalities; these guys have lots of money but the organisation does not have money. These three things, comrades, threaten the foundation of the unity,” added Saul.

Saul also took a moment to congratulate Thobeka Mthintelwa on her recent election as 2nd Deputy President of the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu), wishing her well in her new role.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi  cvdw