Johannesburg - An analyst has warned that the ANC would not be able to regain lost political ground despite its attempts at the policy conference in Nasrec, Soweto, to regroup.
Professor Dirk Kotze of Unisa said on Monday he agreed the party was at its weakest since 1994, but it would be difficult to win back the support it had commanded over the years.
ANC head of political education Nathi Mthethwa admitted on Monday that the party was at its weakest, but said it would bounce back.
He said the ANC had identified the problems and would be able to correct all the problems ahead of 2019.
Kotze said the ANC's Strategy and Tactics document was looking at the broader issues affecting the organisation. Much would depend on the sectoral commissions when they present their resolutions on Tuesday.
“It has got to depend on what the organisational renewal commission is going to conclude, because Strategy and Tactics is looking at the broad perspective,” said Kotze.
“It is incumbent on that commission to come up with solutions.
"The main problem for any party in this position, the governing party which is losing position is not likely to turn it around.”
He said this had happened to the Congress Party in India and other parties in Africa.
“If they start losing support they won’t come back. History is against the ANC,” said Kotze.
Mthethwa said the ANC would self-correct ahead of the 2019 polls.
He said research had shown where the problems were, and the party would be able to self-correct.
He added that the ANC had taken stock of what happened in the local government elections in August, where the party lost the key metros of Joburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay.
He said they had identified the problems and they needed to address them.
“We say the postulation that the liberation movements stall after attaining freedom is not based on any science.
"We look around us and at the liberation movements who fell flat after attaining freedom.
"But we look at other liberation movements who were able to continue,” said Mthethwa.
He said Swapo in Namibia had lost some political ground at some point, but managed to reclaim it.
Chama Chama Punduzi in Tanzania had also been in charge of the government for over 50 years.
He said the ANC could and would bounce back - the political future of the ANC was in its own hands.