Durban - The ANC eThekwini has unveiled an ambitious battle plan aimed at ensuring that it wins the Durban metro with an “overwhelming” majority.
The party wants to increase its 2011 electoral poll and also reach out to communities, especially those that rejected some of its candidates.
Dubbed as an aggressive door-to-door campaign, 20 000 volunteers are expected to paint the metro yellow between Thursdays and Sundays.
This would assess the needs of communities and also get the municipality to respond to their challenges, and takes place against the backdrop of the recent rejection of some candidate councillors by some communities, amid claims that they were imposed by leadership.
The ruling party took control of the metro in the 2009 municipal elections, after clinching 61.07% of the votes.
At the time, the DA managed to secure itself 21.02% of the vote, while the rest of the small parties – IFP, Minority Front and National Freedom Party – shared the remainder.
In the 2014 general elections, the ANC and the DA maintained more or less the same results, as each obtained 64.5% and 21.895% of the provincial vote respectively.
In the 2014 national vote, the ruling party garnered 65.39% and the DA 22.95%.
The performance of the ANC in eThekwini has been impressive compared with other metros, where its support has declined during the last two elections.
The decline in its vote in the Nelson Mandela, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metros has had pundits speculate that the ruling party may be ousted should it not obtain an outright majority.
But, the ANC eThekwini says although it was certain of retaining the municipality, it wanted to increase its percentage.
Speaking to the Daily News on Monday, regional secretary, Bheki Ntuli, said their internal research showed that they would cling on to the 76 wards they now control.
“Our polls tell us that we are to win more wards,” Ntuli said.
He also said they would spare no effort in making sure that all their members and supporters cast their ballots on August 3.
Ntuli said feedback from the door-to-door campaign would be relayed during their briefings with mayor James Nxumalo and his executive council members, so that they dealt with issues raised by communities.
“It is part of service delivery and ensuring that service delivery was speeded up, because we are in government.”
He also said their election campaign would popularise not only the planned development, but what had been achieved by the ANC-led metro.
Addressing volunteers on Saturday, Ntuli told them that branches were expected to have an election programme known by the general membership.
Also speaking to volunteers, regional chairwoman, Zandile Gumede, emphasised their election campaign was to reach out to voters.
“It also helps in getting our elections message across to our people. We, therefore, call on all our volunteers and structures to take this campaign with the seriousness it deserves,” Gumede said.
On Monday, Ntuli said the party planned to visit those wards bedevilled by protests and complaints in the nomination of candidates.
“We won’t be arrogant. We will brief them on who the organisation has decided to be a councillor,” he said.