The African National Congress (ANC) has said it will take “the necessary steps” against Member of Parliament Malusi Gigaba and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s recent behaviour, which the party said amounted to deliberate "de-campaigning" of the ANC.

This after Gigaba claimed the party had "lost its way" and failed to achieve its goals, and Mchunu warning that the party was on the verge of collapse.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri described Gigaba and Mchunu’s conduct as a “flagrant violation” of the party’s internal communication protocols and said it undermined the fundamental discipline of the movement.

“Their remarks do not reflect the views of any legitimate structure of the movement and must be seen as an opportunistic assault on the collective image, credibility, and cohesion of the African National Congress,” she said.

She accused them of casting aspersions on the ANC’s character and unity, which she warned weakened confidence in the party.

“No disciplined comrade would out of their own volition make statements that embolden forces that have long sought to reverse the gains of our revolution. The ANC will take the necessary steps to correct this behaviour and no comrade will be exempt from the discipline of the organisation which demands unity, discipline, and revolutionary morality from all,” Bhengu-Motsiri added.

She stressed the ANC was a revolutionary movement that was guided by democratic centralism principles and led through disciplined structures.

She said no member was above the requirements of organisational discipline and pointed to the party being on a renewal journey, saying the process could not co-exist with ill-discipline.

“…we have no tolerance for conduct that seeks to weaken the collective. We call on all members and leaders of our movement to return to the basic principles and values of our movement and be committed to respecting the integrity and sanctity of our organisational processes,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.