ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the party’s campaign for the 2021 local government elections has been the most difficult yet for the party.
Ramaphosa was addressing supporters at the party’s “Thank You” rally on Monday afternoon, at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto campus.
Speaking inside the Imbizo Hall, where thousands were gathered, Ramaphosa said the lower voter turnout was of great concern for the party, which only clinched 46.04% of votes compared to the 50% it gained in the 2016 municipal elections.
The ANC could only attain a majority in two metros, Buffalo City and Mangaung, as it lost its majority in eThekwini and it failed to gain a majority again in Nelson Mandela Bay, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
Ramaphosa says the poor performance of ANC in the #Elections2021 was due to problems within the ANC, the organizations performance in government and the level of corruption and service delivery @IOL pic.twitter.com/sLWfOSFG7U
— Kailene Pillay (@kailenepillay) November 8, 2021
Ramaphosa says the ANC should not hang their heads. This is just a setback and they know the reasons for the setbacks. He says the ANC is still quite victorious @IOL pic.twitter.com/kQBOPVtLzP
— Kailene Pillay (@kailenepillay) November 8, 2021
Ramaphosa says immediately they are focused on ensuring all residents have water, electricity and Sanitation and that service delivery is improved @IOL
— Kailene Pillay (@kailenepillay) November 8, 2021
Ramaphosa says don't feel helpless. If coalition negotiations fail then law will kick in and there might have to be another election @IOL pic.twitter.com/9mpToKACiM
— Kailene Pillay (@kailenepillay) November 8, 2021
“It was a difficult campaign, that we must admit,” he said.
He said several service delivery qualms, that were raised during the ANC's door-to-door campaigns, included lack of water sanitation but, particularly, electricity.
“Community members and supporters also raised the issue of disunity and factionalism within our own ranks. They said, in many ways, this is what is eating the ANC away and this is what afflicts us. We fight continuously, as if there is no tomorrow. We are not united at a leadership level and we fight to the death. This leads to people dying in branch meetings and conferences. This is what our people see,” he said.
Ramaphosa further highlighted that the many supporters had voiced concerns over corruption in the ruling party.
“They raise the issue of corruption sharply. They also raised the issue of patronage. These are issues that have had a significant impact on voters’ attitudes,” said Ramaphosa.
He added: “A weak and divided ANC will forever be incapable of addressing the people’s needs and concerns.”
Political Bureau