An Analysis of the ANC’s Power at the 55th National Conference of 2022

Abstract

In the lead-up to the centenary of the ANC in 2012, Booysen proposed an analytical framework in which to assess the ANC’s power and ability to retain that power in future. The analytical framework examines ANC to power in four dimensions, the ANC in relation to the people, the state of the ANC organisationally, the ANC electorally and application of said power. The analytical framework indicates milestones to measure whether the party is strengthening or weakening.  This paper adopts Booysen’s analytical framework to examine ANC Power at the time of the 55th National Congress held in 2022. Using the milestones indicated by the framework this paper argues that the ANC has weakened across three of the four indicators namely the ANC in the state, in relation to the people and electorally while it has strengthened organisationally.