ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has warned that a poor result for the party in November’s elections could trigger internal pressure for the current leadership to step aside, according to IOL. He suggested dissatisfied members may demand changes before 2027, intensifying scrutiny of party leaders. The comments underscore concerns within the ANC that electoral losses could reopen succession debates and weaken the standing of those now in charge.

According to SABC Politics, Mbalula has conceded that a poor election result could damage the ANC’s leadership. The report says the African National Congress has faced a serious electoral decline, including the loss of its parliamentary majority. The comments frame the outcome as a significant internal and political test for the governing party as it assesses its weakened mandate and future direction.

A TimesLIVE editorial argues that a high-stakes blunder by South Africa's ANC has exposed internal disarray within the party and could threaten the credibility of upcoming elections. According to the editorial, the ANC has blamed the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) for a missed deadline, setting the stage for a showdown in the Electoral Court. The piece frames the dispute as evidence of dysfunction within the governing party as it faces mounting political and organisational pressure.

Political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu has raised concerns about the Democratic Alliance's (DA) integrity, particularly in light of allegations regarding business influence involving former leader John Steenhuisen. Ndlovu questions the party's claims of maintaining clean governance amidst these serious accusations.

The African National Congress held a media briefing on Tuesday to explain its decision to take the Electoral Commission of South Africa to court over the submission of its candidate list, according to TimesLIVE. The live stream focused on the party’s challenge to the IEC process, but the provided notice did not include the court sought, specific alleged defect, affected candidates or municipalities, timing, or the IEC’s response.

ANC national executive committee member Mondli Gungubele likened the party to a Rolls-Royce driven by drunkards, saying it remains popular with South Africans but has lost electoral support because voters no longer trust its leaders. According to the report, Gungubele made the remarks while reflecting on the party's declining fortunes, arguing that the organisation itself retains appeal despite public frustration with its current leadership and governance record.