A 2026 Bertelsmann Stiftung (BTI) report finds that South Africa’s growth and development are held back by structural constraints, including what it describes as rigid or dogmatic elements within the African National Congress (ANC). The report frames the country’s main challenges as rooted in long-term governance and institutional issues that affect policy effectiveness and implementation. It argues that ideological rigidity can limit the ANC’s ability to adapt to evolving development needs and respond to pressing problems facing the country. While the available coverage emphasises the role of ideology in constraining reform, it also places that point within a broader assessment of systemic obstacles, rather than attributing outcomes to a single factor. The report is presented as offering critical insights into the barriers to progress and the conditions under which South Africa could improve development outcomes. Coverage encourages consideration of whether the party can move beyond dogmatism to address development priorities identified in the study.