The African National Congress (ANC) is seeking to govern Cape Town on its own after 20 years outside the city's executive. The party's Western Cape leadership outlined its ambitions to unseat the Democratic Alliance (DA) ahead of the 4 November local government elections. ANC Western Cape provincial convener Jerimia Thuynsma stated that the party would contest the elections seeking an outright mandate but remained open to discussions with other parties.
Thuynsma criticised the DA's record on service delivery, housing and the distribution of resources between affluent communities and poorer areas. He argued that the ANC's experience in government and its work in opposition had prepared it to challenge the DA's administration. The ANC has been outside Cape Town's executive since 2006 when it was unseated by a DA-led coalition.
The ANC aims to address the city's inequalities and ensure that Cape Town's government fulfils its constitutional responsibilities. Thuynsma pointed to the Public Protector's investigations into service delivery and the legal challenge involving the Tafelberg housing site as examples of issues the ANC had raised while in opposition. The party had approached the Public Protector over service delivery concerns, including investigations involving Mitchells Plain in 2023 and Khayelitsha in 2025.
Thuynsma challenged the DA's approach to financial accountability, arguing that a clean audit should demonstrate not only that public money had been accounted for but also that approved projects had been delivered. He said the ANC's own record in Cape Town had included clean audits during its time in government. The ANC's approach would include addressing the root causes of crime and creating sustainable jobs.
Crime, housing and jobs are among the ANC's priorities. Thuynsma argued that the city needed to address the underlying causes of gangsterism while strengthening community involvement in public safety. The party wants to revive the Bambanani programme, which involves communities in crime prevention. Thuynsma also argued that housing and employment needed to be considered alongside crime prevention.
The ANC says poorer communities must not be left behind. Thuynsma argued that Cape Town's government needed to balance the needs of affluent residents with those of poorer communities. He said the city faced competing demands and needed a long-term vision for its development, including a clear understanding of what it should look like by 2050.
Despite its stated preference to govern alone, the ANC did not rule out working with other parties if the election result required negotiations. The ANC's challenge is to persuade voters that it can offer an alternative to the DA's administration after 20 years outside the city's executive.
Key points
- ANC seeks to govern Cape Town alone after 20 years under DA.
- Party prioritises addressing crime, housing and service delivery.
- ANC remains open to coalition talks if necessary.
