Jeff Radebe, An Enduring Asset in ANC Politics and South African Society

In the theatre of South African politics, a stage where scandal, factional drama, and empty promises often dominate the headlines, there are few figures as enduring and as overlooked as Jeff Radebe. He is not the loudest voice in the ANC. He is not the flamboyant dealmaker. Nor is he the headline-grabbing populist. And yet, for three decades, Radebe has been one of the ANC’s most useful assets to the party, to government and, by extension, to South African society.

Radebe’s career tells the story of consistency. Since 1994, he has served under every democratic administration, occupying portfolios from Public Works to Justice, Transport to Energy, and finally, Planning. He is the longest-serving Cabinet member in post-apartheid history. In a political environment where careers often collapse under the weight of scandal or shifting alliances, Radebe has shown a rare ability to adapt, stay relevant, and, most importantly, survive.

That survival, however, is not just about self-preservation. Radebe brings something to the ANC that few others do: institutional memory and credibility across factions. He has been trusted to mediate disputes within the party, often playing the role of unifier when the ANC’s internal wars threaten to spill into paralysis. In a party as fractured as the ANC of 2025, such figures are not a luxury; they are essential.

But Radebe’s influence stretches beyond Luthuli House. His work on the National Development Plan, while imperfect, demonstrated a capacity for long-term thinking in a country perpetually distracted by the crisis of the week.  He  represents something deeply unfashionable in today’s politics: steady, quiet, pragmatic leadership.

Of course, his critics will argue that he has been too cautious, too wedded to the politics of compromise, and too comfortable in the machinery of government to truly shake things up. Fair enough. But in a democracy as fragile as ours, not every leader needs to be a disruptor. Some must be anchors. And Jeff Radebe has anchored the ANC and the state through transition after transition, storm after storm.

As the ANC faces an uncertain future, bleeding support, fighting internal battles, and struggling to re-establish its credibility, it may find that Radebe’s brand of calm, thoughtful leadership is not only useful but indispensable. In an age of political noise, Jeff Radebe remains the quiet constant.

Issued by Black Excellence Network RSA