ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed claims that the African National Congress (ANC) is "dead" in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) despite the party's significant decline in support in the 2024 national and provincial elections. Ramaphosa stated that the ANC is gaining momentum in the province and is working to rebuild support. He made these comments while speaking in eThekwini, where he reported back to the party's National Working Committee (NWC) on the progress being made.
The ANC's support in KwaZulu-Natal fell sharply from 54% in the previous election cycle to about 16% in the 2024 elections. The MK Party won 45% of the vote, while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) also finished ahead of the ANC. Ramaphosa acknowledged the decline but expressed optimism about the party's prospects, citing the return of members from other political parties as a positive sign. He emphasized that the ANC remained rooted in KwaZulu-Natal and that its current campaign was demonstrating that the party was alive and rebuilding.
Ramaphosa's comments were met with skepticism by some analysts, who questioned the evidence behind his claim of momentum. University of KwaZulu-Natal academic Zakhele Ndlovu said that the ANC's 2024 electoral decline was significant and that Ramaphosa's claim appeared to be wishful thinking. Ndlovu pointed to the party's poor performance in the 2024 elections, where it finished third behind the MK Party and IFP. He also highlighted the challenges facing the ANC, including the popularity of former president Jacob Zuma and the party's failure to deliver on its promises.
Analysts also pointed to the need for the ANC to improve service delivery if it wants to rebuild support. UKZN academic and political analyst Dr. Siyabonga Ntombela said that poor service delivery had created resentment and discontent among eThekwini residents, while unfulfilled promises had contributed to voter dissatisfaction. Ntombela also noted that the ANC's provincial leadership had been reconfigured after the party's 2024 decline, with a provincial task team led by Mike Mabuyakhulu now running the campaign.
Ramaphosa, however, remains optimistic about the ANC's prospects. He said that rebuilding the party would require stronger branches and greater engagement with communities. He emphasized that the ANC needed to strengthen its branches so that they could demonstrate that the party remained rooted in the communities it sought to govern. Ramaphosa also expressed confidence that the ANC would regain its position as a dominant force in KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC is set to face a significant challenge in rebuilding its support in eThekwini, where the MK Party received 48% of the vote in the 2024 elections. The party had received 42% of the vote in the metro in 2021, after which it governed through a coalition. Analysts say that the ANC will need to regain significant support to strengthen its position in the metro. The party is also facing a critical test ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
The ANC's performance in KwaZulu-Natal will be closely watched ahead of the 2029 elections. Ramaphosa said that the party wanted to return to a position where it could govern again, rather than rely on other parties to remain in power. He expressed confidence that the ANC would lead again in 2029, saying that the party must go back to its normal state and govern again.
Key points
- ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa rejects claims that the party is "dead" in KwaZulu-Natal despite poor performance in 2024 elections.
- Analysts question the evidence behind Ramaphosa's claim of momentum, citing significant decline in ANC support.
- ANC faces significant challenges in rebuilding support, including improving service delivery and overcoming popularity of former president Jacob Zuma.
