Former ANC national executive committee member Derek Hanekom criticized ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula for threatening to remove public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan if he does not swiftly address the issues at Transnet.

During the ANC Women's League national conference at Nasrec, Mbalula singled out Gordhan, urging him to act promptly in resolving the challenges faced by the country's rail system, or face potential consequences. Mbalula stated, "I’m going to say to Pravin Gordhan, I was with him there, I was also a minister of transport: 'Comrade Pravin, move faster or otherwise we will move you.' We do not want ministers who do not know what they are doing. We do not want premiers who do not know what they are doing. When you are a premier, you must be busy like [Gauteng premier] Panyaza [Lesufi]."

Hanekom found fault with Mbalula's decision to single out Gordhan, questioning whether Mbalula was content with his own performance when he was a minister. Hanekom asked, "When you make a statement like this, you need to explain why you are not making a statement on a number of poor performing ministers. Are you satisfied with your own performance when you were a minister?"

Mbalula's statement sparked various reactions, and the ruling party responded with a statement affirming that Gordhan's position was secure. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri clarified that Mbalula's call for Gordhan to expedite rail and freight logistics improvements should not be interpreted as a call for his removal. The ANC emphasized the need for the government to swiftly implement policy intentions aimed at improving the lives of all South Africans and resolving the country's challenges.