I asked the AI when the ANC started talking about its renewal and committing to fixing local government issues. The answer below tells me not to believe yesterday’s commitment. If the ANC were serious about renewal, it would long camped in Johannesburg, Ethekwini, and Gqeberha to stop the rot and win back the working class's and middle class's confidence. Beautiful speeches don't change the reality faced on the ground: 

The African National Congress (ANC) has discussed internal renewal and improving local governance at various points in its history, especially as criticisms of corruption, poor service delivery, and internal factionalism mounted. Below are key moments regarding these topics:

1. ANC’s Discussions on Renewal

The idea of renewing the ANC has been a recurring theme for decades, but it gained prominence at specific points:
•1997 - ANC National Conference in Mafikeng:
Discussions on renewal began as the party prepared to transition from the leadership of Nelson Mandela to Thabo Mbeki. It focused on addressing the challenges of governance and the need to avoid complacency in power.
•2012 - Mangaung Conference:
The concept of “self-correction” and renewal was raised during Jacob Zuma’s presidency, as corruption scandals and internal divisions started undermining the party’s credibility.
•2017 - Nasrec Conference:
Cyril Ramaphosa campaigned for party leadership on a platform of “renewal,” anti-corruption, and rebuilding public trust. The 2017 ANC resolution formally adopted renewal as a priority, emphasizing the need to address factionalism, corruption, and declining electoral performance.
•Post-2017:
Ramaphosa’s administration continued emphasizing renewal, but critics noted slow progress in implementing meaningful reforms within the party.

2. Promises to Fix Local Government

The ANC’s promises to improve local government date back to the early 2000s but became more urgent as local municipalities faced worsening service delivery failures:
•2006 Local Government Elections:
The ANC pledged to fix failing municipalities, improve infrastructure, and deliver basic services. It acknowledged challenges in governance and leadership within local governments.
•2011 Local Government Elections:
The party launched the “Back to Basics” campaign, emphasizing improving local government performance and addressing corruption and mismanagement.
•2016 Local Government Elections:
Following significant electoral losses in key metros (Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay), the ANC ramped up promises to overhaul municipal management and tackle governance issues.
•2021 Local Government Elections:
The ANC explicitly tied its renewal efforts to fixing local government. In its manifesto, the party acknowledged decades of underperformance in municipalities and committed to improving service delivery, eradicating corruption, and building capable local governance structures.

Summary of First Key Moments
•Renewal: The concept dates back to at least 1997 but gained strong momentum at the 2017 Nasrec Conference with Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership.
•Fixing Local Government: The ANC has been making promises since at least the 2006 Local Government Elections, with the issue growing more urgent over time due to mounting service delivery failures.

Both topics have been recurring priorities, but implementation has often lagged behind rhetoric.