ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has issued a direct challenge to the party’s councillors in the Western Cape, telling them they must “pick up their socks” and work harder if they are to successfully challenge the Democratic Alliance (DA) in next year’s local government elections.
Mantashe’s comments came during a report-back meeting in Khayelitsha on Thursday, part of a programme launched by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa last year aimed at improving accountability and service delivery among local representatives.
The National Chairperson addressed the ongoing debate surrounding service delivery, acknowledging that financial comparisons between ANC and DA municipalities often favour the opposition. However, he drew a sharp distinction on the ground, accusing the DA of neglecting townships.
“Yes, the DA is doing well in white suburbs. It is neglecting townships,” Mantashe stated. “Therefore our councillors are happening to be in townships. They have a responsibility to pick up their socks and take the fight to the DA.”
His visit highlighted a internal party tension. The transcript reveals that not all ANC councillors in Cape Town agree with President Ramaphosa’s recent remarks that DA-run municipalities are better governed. These councillors argue that services are disproportionately prioritised in affluent areas.
“A city whereby all the services are prioritized in the white suburbs, in the leafy suburbs,” one councillor is reported to have said, “when you go into the townships you see a totally different narrative on the ground whereby sewer is overflowing in the streets, potholes, water and sanitation problems and lack of housing development.”
In a firm address, Mantashe reminded councillors that the responsibility for electoral success lies with them, not with national figures. He emphasised the critical role of local engagement, stating, “No national leader will win elections for you… Every voter is in a region, is actually in a branch, is actually in a ward of the ANC. That’s where the difference is made.”
The ANC has consistently struggled to win back support in the DA-dominated Western Cape. Mantashe framed the path to recovery around organisational strengthening, stating, “Number one is to strengthen the ANC. Strengthening the ANC to us means branches that are vibrant that are responsive to people’s problems, including councillors that are responsive to people’s problem.”
As part of this strategy, the ANC National Executive Committee has deployed Mantashe to make regular visits to the Western Cape. His mission is to ensure the implementation of the six pillars announced by President Ramaphosa.
Despite the acknowledged difficulty of the task, local ANC representatives expressed a determined outlook. “We’ve got our task cut out for us and it’s a huge task,” one said. “Do we have enough time to make a turnaround? I think as ANC we can do it because we are hard workers. We know our communities.”
The true test for the party will be whether this renewed local focus can translate into tangible service delivery improvements and, ultimately, grow its support at the polls next year.
