Moeletsi Mbeki says ANC has run its course

The ANC has done what it could to grow the South African economy since coming to power 23 years ago, but it cannot continue to build on what it has achieved, says political economist Moeletsi Mbeki.

Speaking on Wednesday evening at the inaugural Courageous Conversations dialogue hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mbeki commenting on the role of the governing party said he believed the ANC had run its course, Fin24 reports.

He said the party had done what it could “reasonably well” over the years, though it could no longer be the solution to the country’s future.

The political economist – who’s a known critic of the ANC and the younger brother of former president Thabo Mbeki – said the country had a new future which would be more innovative and integrated.

Despite the ANC’s mistakes, the party’s achievements included growing the black middle class to over 3 million individuals, which Mbeki said should be seen as an asset. He also said the ANC had kept the local economy functioning.

“The issue is, can the ANC build on this? My own view is it can’t,” he added.

Other speakers at the dialogue, according to the report, included former RMB chief executive and current chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Sizwe Nxasana, University of Pretoria chancellor Wiseman Nkuhlu and Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop.

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