South Africa: Infinite patience no more – many years later, the ANC needs to show it can tackle corruption, or face further decline

Last week, the ANC’s National Executive Committee met to evaluate the results of the 29 May elections. Or, more accurately, to discuss why it performed so badly. At the centre of this was a report by Joel Netshitenzhe, the head of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection.

The report is probably the most in-depth public document tackling the subject so far. It examines not just the ANC’s performance, but also those of the other bigger parties, including the DA, the EFF and MK,…