In a candid admission, ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member Fikile Mbalula has acknowledged that the party’s disappointing performance in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provinces played a significant role in the poor results in recent national elections. Mbalula, who is the Minister of Transport, attributed the setbacks to several factors, including internal challenges, voter dissatisfaction, and the shifting political landscape in these key provinces.
In his statement, Mbalula highlighted that both Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, and KZN, a stronghold of ANC support for decades, showed dismal voter turnout and a significant decline in support for the party. This trend, he suggested, is indicative of the party’s failure to connect with key voter bases and the erosion of its once-solid support in these regions.
According to Mbalula, the performance in Gauteng and KZN is emblematic of broader issues facing the ANC, including governance challenges, service delivery concerns, and the party’s handling of key socio-economic issues. He expressed concern that the party’s traditional base of support is now fragmenting, with voters increasingly turning to opposition parties.
In response to the alarming results, the ANC has appointed a task team to focus specifically on these two provinces and address the factors contributing to the party’s weakening position. The task team is expected to investigate the causes of dissatisfaction among voters, improve grassroots mobilization, and find new ways to reconnect with communities. Mbalula stressed the urgency of this mission, emphasizing that the ANC cannot afford to lose these critical provinces in future elections if it aims to maintain political relevance.
The ANC’s declining performance in Gauteng and KZN has been a topic of much discussion in political circles, as both provinces have been vital to the party’s electoral success in the past. While KZN has traditionally been a stronghold for the ANC, Gauteng has become increasingly competitive, with opposition parties gaining ground in recent years. In the recent polls, the ANC’s failure to maintain its dominance in these regions has sent a clear message that its traditional support base is shifting, and the party must make significant changes to regain trust.
The newly formed task team will be tasked with engaging in open dialogue with the party’s supporters, identifying the party’s shortcomings, and implementing corrective measures. Mbalula has expressed confidence that the team will be able to address the concerns of voters and help the ANC regain its footing in these provinces.
Political analysts have suggested that the ANC needs to focus on rejuvenating its leadership, improving its service delivery track record, and addressing corruption scandals that have plagued the party in recent years. While Mbalula’s comments and the formation of the task team have been welcomed by some as a sign that the ANC is willing to confront its problems head-on, others remain skeptical about the party’s ability to make meaningful changes in time for the next election cycle.
As the ANC embarks on this new chapter of political soul-searching, the pressure is on to reverse the party’s fortunes in Gauteng and KZN. The outcome of the task team’s efforts will be crucial in determining the ANC’s ability to stay competitive in the evolving South African political landscape.
