ANC NEC member Khumbudzo Ntshavheni (centre) chose to share images of her campaign yesterday after social media users attacked her Friday post.
African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee member Khumbudzo Ntshavheni deleted her X post appealing to South Africans to vote for the governing party after it attracted widespread criticism from social media users and prominent public figures.
The post, published on Friday evening, had attracted more than 375 000 views and close to 1 000 quoted responses before Ntshavheni removed it.
Her appeal for voters to give the ANC another chance was met with accusations that the party had become arrogant, broken its promises and lost touch with ordinary South Africans.
“I am not asking your vote because the ANC is perfect. It is not. I am asking because our commitments now come with dates, a public scorecard and your right to check,” she wrote.
However, her message drew sharp responses from former politicians, civil society representatives and commentators.
Former Democratic Alliance (DA) MPL Mbali Ntuli, founder and chief executive of non-profit organisation Ground Work Collective, responded bluntly.
“You guys are so arrogant and disgusting to the common person not to mention that you are completely fine putting useless people in positions of power. You have brought your electoral decline to yourselves,” she wrote.
Jaco Kleynhans, head of international and public liaison at trade union Solidarity, questioned Ntshavheni's appeal by referring to her previous position as municipal manager of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality and an ongoing corruption investigation.
“One reason not to do this: Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is directly linked to the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality due to her previous role as municipal manager there, as well as an ongoing, high-profile corruption investigation,” he wrote.
Popular Limpopo digital content creator, comedian and influencer Karabo “Kay” Mahapa also challenged the ANC to demonstrate its renewed commitments in provinces where it has traditionally enjoyed considerable support.
“There’s no need to ask us for votes, there are provinces like Limpopo and Eastern Cape where the residents seem to still be fooled by your empty promises, show us your renewed commitments THERE. You ruined those provinces, fix them and let us see your tangible results,” Mahapa wrote.
One of the most extensive responses came from Princess “Princy” Mthombeni, a nuclear energy advocate, communications specialist and constitutional reform activist with South Africans for Constitutional Reform (SACR).
Mthombeni accused the ANC of abandoning its founding commitment to build a better South Africa for all, arguing that the party had become increasingly disconnected from the people it was elected to serve.
“For three decades, you have promised to build a South Africa that is ‘better for all’. But somewhere along the way, the meaning of for all got lost and the struggle became increasingly about you, your comrades and the privileges that come with power.
“You became arrogant, disconnected and out of touch with the very people you were elected to serve. The blue lights, bodyguards, government positions and VIP treatment got into your heads. You gradually forgot that public office is a responsibility, not a reward, and that leadership is about serving people, not looking down on them.”
She further criticised the party's record on service delivery, infrastructure maintenance, governance and the management of state institutions.
Mthombeni cited water shortages, the alleged growth of criminal mafias and what she described as the use of government departments, municipalities and state-owned enterprises as vehicles for political patronage.
She also questioned the ANC's approach to international agreements, arguing that their long-term implications for economic sovereignty and development had not been adequately considered.
“I hope that one day you will pause, look beyond your positions and privileges, and honestly reflect on what you have done with the trust of the people,” she wrote.
Ntshavheni had not publicly explained why she deleted the post at the time of writing.
The X post which ANC NEC member Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has since deleted.