PRETORIA, Gauteng — As ANC Tshwane coalition negotiations intensify following the recent local government elections, the party has pledged to prioritize municipal governance and rapid service delivery for residents. Spokesperson Joel Modise outlined the party’s strategy to address the capital’s administrative challenges, emphasizing a commitment to fix critical infrastructure within the first 100 days of forming a new government.
The African National Congress (ANC) placed third in the recent municipal polls, securing 44 wards, trailing behind the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 37 wards and ActionSA with 26 wards. With municipal councils required to be constituted within 14 days, the party is now focused on navigating the complex political landscape to govern the metro effectively.
Modise stated that the ANC’s immediate 100-day plan will focus on “low-hanging fruits” to improve the daily lives of residents, specifically targeting the repair of streetlights and the resolution of sewage issues.
Addressing the party’s recent electoral performance, Modise defended the ANC’s track record during its previous tenure in the coalition government. He noted that when the ANC inherited the municipality in October 2024, it was in a state of collapse, lacking liquidity, unable to pay service providers, and burdened by qualified audit opinions. Modise claimed that during their time holding five MMC portfolios—including finance, roads and transport, human settlements, utility services, and social development—the party successfully stabilized the municipality and lifted its credit listing.
The last clean audit for the municipality was achieved in 2017 under ANC mayoral leadership. Modise admitted, however, that the party failed to effectively communicate these governance successes to the public, losing the public relations battle to coalition partners who claimed the credit for the stabilized departments.
Looking ahead, the final configuration of the coalition government remains in the hands of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC). Modise confirmed that the NEC is currently assessing the political landscape and will determine whether to partner with the DA, ActionSA, the EFF, or other parties. He noted that a final decision on the coalition partners was expected to be announced over the weekend, with the primary focal point being the stabilization of the city’s liquidity and service delivery.
The ANC’s approach to coalition governance also requires adapting to a new political reality. Modise emphasized that the party must strike a balance in service delivery, catering to both affluent areas that drive economic activity and the middle-to-lower-income brackets in their traditional strongholds.
Public sentiment regarding the coalition has been mixed. Viewer polls indicated a strong preference for a DA and ActionSA coalition at 70%, while a DA and ANC pairing garnered only 2%. Addressing public skepticism and comments suggesting the ANC should be left out of government to focus on internal self-correction, Modise acknowledged the electorate’s disappointment.
He argued that the ANC’s self-correction and organizational renewal cannot take place from the opposition benches. Modise insisted that because the party still commands a sizable number of votes, it is incumbent upon them to demonstrate their distinctive ability to deliver services while upholding the high moral demands of society.
Ultimately, Modise stated that the party’s internal reconfiguration and commitment to service delivery are aimed at rebuilding public trust, ensuring the ANC is on an upward electoral trajectory ahead of the 2029 national and provincial elections.
