BOTLOKWA, LIMPOPO — As the African National Congress (ANC) 2026 local election campaign intensifies, party Treasurer-General Dr. Gwen Ramokgopa has taken her message of service delivery and youth empowerment to Botlokwa, outside Polokwane in Limpopo.
During her visit, Dr. Ramokgopa engaged with several traditional authorities. She stated that a primary objective of the tour is to reaffirm the strategic alliance between the ANC and traditional leaders, emphasizing the need for capable municipalities that can effectively deliver services.
Outlining the party’s local government manifesto, Dr. Ramokgopa promised that the ANC would improve roads, electrify households, and ensure reliable water and energy supplies. She noted that establishing this foundational infrastructure is essential to attract outside investors and stimulate local economic growth.
A major focus of her address was youth unemployment. Dr. Ramokgopa stressed that municipalities must prioritize employing young people, particularly those who have benefited from student financial aid and acquired vital skills in engineering, health, and environmental services.
“They have to be given an opportunity first and foremost by government,” she said, adding that these young graduates possess the knowledge necessary to drive municipal service delivery.
Moving beyond direct government employment, the ANC Treasurer-General encouraged the youth to think outside the box and actively utilize existing state resources to empower themselves. She urged young entrepreneurs to approach development finance institutions such as the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
She advised young people to organize themselves to access these services rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them. Furthermore, she suggested that ward committees should include “champions of economic development” specifically targeting the youth, noting that the resources and opportunities are already available if citizens organize accordingly.
Local residents echoed the desire for tangible improvements in their daily lives. Community members expressed hopes that the upcoming elections will bring reduced unemployment and serious attention to rural sanitation, particularly in villages.
Highlighting the sentiment that “it takes a village to raise a child,” residents pleaded for equitable rural development. They noted that people from rural areas often feel overlooked and not taken seriously when engaging with urban centers, reiterating the urgent need for upgraded roads, electricity, and water infrastructure.
Concluding her campaign visit, Dr. Ramokgopa called upon all eligible voters in the region to exercise their democratic right and cast their ballots on the 4th of November.
