London used to be the most influential base of the ANC outside Africa during apartheid.
Former party leaders, the late Oliver Tambo, Thabo Mbeki and others, lived and operated from there.
Some of the crucial negotiations between influential Afrikaners and the ANC took place there.
Following the unbanning of all political parties in 1990, the ANC decided to close down all its foreign-based offices.
But Xolani Xala, latecomer to ANC politics in London, has revived recognition of the ANC in that city.
With some other South Africans, he decided in 2007 to establish an ANC branch.
He went to London in 2000 looking for work after obtaining a degree in theology in Israel.
Years later, the interim international branch of the ANC in London is fielding tough questions about South Africa: from Marikana, Nkandla, labour unrest and a litany of reports on corruption to the high crime rate.
It's a hard sell, Xala admits. But he has made it his mission to be a good ambassador.
"I went to London to gain international exposure but I missed my ANC. I was one of those who was brought into politics by Lulu Johnson, the former ANC Youth League president," says the 32-year-old Xala, who comes from Port Elizabeth.
"We are focusing on rallying support from the ANC and promoting its programmes. We ensure that people who are eligible to vote come elections will vote for the ANC."
Xala says although they cannot replicate what Tambo did when he lived in London, it is important to rally ANC members and recruit new members.
They have 1236 registered members from South Africa across the UK. They are waiting for the ANC's constitution to be amended to adopt them as an international branch.
This can only happen during a policy conference. But they are recognised by the national executive of the ANC, the highest decision-making body in between conferences.
During the party's policy conference in 2012 he says he tried to test the waters, checking whether they could be accepted formally but the provinces had their own programmes and they could not just push for their adoption.
"We need a province [in South Africa] that will accept us as a branch; we have to lobby a province that will carry us to the next policy conference."
He says ANC leaders, including Mathews Phosa, treasurer Zweli Mkhize and deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte have visited the ANC in the UK. While there, Duarte launched an international manifesto ahead of the elections last year.
Xala has a list of all South Africans who live in the UK who he encourages to join the governing party. But it has not been easy to build the membership.
"Some are angry with us. They always ask us about Nkandla, xenophobic attacks and the Marikana killings," says Xala, who works as a consultant for the City of London.
People in London were up in arms following the xenophobic attacks. SA was portrayed as a country where foreigners are just killed.
"They came to us in London and asked what is happening in your country.
"I asked myself how do I address them when I am a foreigner myself? But we stood tall and got the treasurer general to address this issue and he was firm on saying no to xenophobia."
Ordinary South Africans in London also want answers on why many millions of rands were spent onPresident Jacob Zuma's home.
"These are difficult questions and we try our best to answer. I have said let's wait for the parliamentary processes before judging anyone."
Other difficult questions come from business people who have either invested in the country or want to invest.
Xala sits on the UK's SA Chamber of Commerce.
"I have listened to all business concerns and no one is worried about the government or the policies. The business people are worried about the security of their companies.
"They are worried about strikes. They hear and read about strikes that turn violent at times."
Business people worry about the competition among trade unions that have different demands. In the UK and the US, business does not know much about unions, he says.
His proposed solution to the concerns about labour issues is that the ANC should lecture prospective investors about SA.
"They should know that they must pay workers decent wages and be good employers to them and that will minimise the strikes," Xala says.
Another challenge he deals with is defending the country's bad publicity on crime and corruption.
Any story on crime, he says, is blown out of proportion and it creates the impression that you will be mugged as soon as you land at a South African airport.
If a white person is killed it makes international headlines.
He recalls the recent killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe that some thought happened in South Africa.
"We go around the UK to correct all this misinformation. Some people listen, others don't. What is important is that in the UK the ANC is present and alive."
So says the ANC man in London...
ANC salesman in London feels the heat - Questions mount about Nkandla, strikes and crime
London used to be the most influential base of the ANC outside Africa during apartheid.
Former party leaders, the late Oliver Tambo, Thabo Mbeki and others, lived and operated from there.
Some of the crucial negotiations between influential Afrikaners and the ANC took place there.
Following the unbanning of all political parties in 1990, the ANC decided to close down all its foreign-based offices.
But Xolani Xala, latecomer to ANC politics in London, has revived recognition of the ANC in that city.
With some other South Africans, he decided in 2007 to establish an ANC branch.
He went to London in 2000 looking for work after obtaining a degree in theology in Israel.
Years later, the interim international branch of the ANC in London is fielding tough questions about South Africa: from Marikana, Nkandla, labour unrest and a litany of reports on corruption to the high crime rate.
It's a hard sell, Xala admits. But he has made it his mission to be a good ambassador.
"I went to London to gain international exposure but I missed my ANC. I was one of those who was brought into politics by Lulu Johnson, the former ANC Youth League president," says the 32-year-old Xala, who comes from Port Elizabeth.
"We are focusing on rallying support from the ANC and promoting its programmes. We ensure that people who are eligible to vote come elections will vote for the ANC."
Xala says although they cannot replicate what Tambo did when he lived in London, it is important to rally ANC members and recruit new members.
They have 1236 registered members from South Africa across the UK. They are waiting for the ANC's constitution to be amended to adopt them as an international branch.
This can only happen during a policy conference. But they are recognised by the national executive of the ANC, the highest decision-making body in between conferences.
During the party's policy conference in 2012 he says he tried to test the waters, checking whether they could be accepted formally but the provinces had their own programmes and they could not just push for their adoption.
"We need a province [in South Africa] that will accept us as a branch; we have to lobby a province that will carry us to the next policy conference."
He says ANC leaders, including Mathews Phosa, treasurer Zweli Mkhize and deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte have visited the ANC in the UK. While there, Duarte launched an international manifesto ahead of the elections last year.
Xala has a list of all South Africans who live in the UK who he encourages to join the governing party. But it has not been easy to build the membership.
"Some are angry with us. They always ask us about Nkandla, xenophobic attacks and the Marikana killings," says Xala, who works as a consultant for the City of London.
People in London were up in arms following the xenophobic attacks. SA was portrayed as a country where foreigners are just killed.
"They came to us in London and asked what is happening in your country.
"I asked myself how do I address them when I am a foreigner myself? But we stood tall and got the treasurer general to address this issue and he was firm on saying no to xenophobia."
Ordinary South Africans in London also want answers on why many millions of rands were spent onPresident Jacob Zuma's home.
"These are difficult questions and we try our best to answer. I have said let's wait for the parliamentary processes before judging anyone."
Other difficult questions come from business people who have either invested in the country or want to invest.
Xala sits on the UK's SA Chamber of Commerce.
"I have listened to all business concerns and no one is worried about the government or the policies. The business people are worried about the security of their companies.
"They are worried about strikes. They hear and read about strikes that turn violent at times."
Business people worry about the competition among trade unions that have different demands. In the UK and the US, business does not know much about unions, he says.
His proposed solution to the concerns about labour issues is that the ANC should lecture prospective investors about SA.
"They should know that they must pay workers decent wages and be good employers to them and that will minimise the strikes," Xala says.
Another challenge he deals with is defending the country's bad publicity on crime and corruption.
Any story on crime, he says, is blown out of proportion and it creates the impression that you will be mugged as soon as you land at a South African airport.
If a white person is killed it makes international headlines.
He recalls the recent killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe that some thought happened in South Africa.
"We go around the UK to correct all this misinformation. Some people listen, others don't. What is important is that in the UK the ANC is present and alive."
So says the ANC man in London...
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