NORTHERN CAPE – Vote counting and verification are concluding for the Northern Cape local government elections, with the African National Congress (ANC) addressing a significant decline in support and outlining its strategy for coalition governance.
Most councils in the province have now been counted at the Results Operations Centre in Kimberley. The election results indicate notable shifts in party performance. The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has surged to 9% of the vote, marking a significant increase from previous elections. Conversely, the ANC has experienced a 9% drop in support, falling from 50% in 2021 to just over 41% in the current election cycle.
Deshi Ngxanga, the Provincial Secretary of the ANC, provided insight into the party’s performance and future operational plans. Ngxanga noted that the ANC currently stands at roughly 158, needing approximately 7,000 more votes to reach the 165 recorded in the previous election. He indicated that votes are still arriving from rural strongholds, specifically in the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) Region, which includes the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality and Joe Morolong Local Municipality. The ANC currently maintains a leading position in 16 leading and six party municipalities, requiring only two or three additional seats to govern effectively as their provincial percentage hovers near 50%. There are currently 14 councils in focus.
Addressing the shift toward coalition politics, Ngxanga emphasized that the ANC is seeking partnerships that prioritize service delivery over the allocation of positions to individuals. He highlighted the Patriotic Alliance as a reliable partner, noting their lack of arrogance, minimal demands, and shared focus on community interests. Ngxanga stated that the center of every coalition must be the people, and the ANC will only join agreements that improve living conditions.
The ANC also expressed openness to collaborating with newer civic movements, specifically naming Rise Tsantsabane Communities and the Dikgatlong Residents Convention. Ngxanga explained that many of these civic movements originate from the ANC, making it easier to establish relationships, though formal coalitions with these newer entities have not yet been tested. He added that the party is not ruling out future relationships with them if it advances the cause of the public.
The ANC’s traditional strongholds in the province include the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, Phokwane Local Municipality, the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) Region, the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, and the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality. Meanwhile, a significant political shift occurred in the Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality, an area bordering Namibia. The Democratic Alliance (DA) secured 41.74% of the vote with all votes declared, edging out the ANC, which received 41.2%. This marks a major turnaround from 2021, when the ANC held the municipality with 55% of the vote.
Acknowledging a “social distance” between the party and the public identified during the campaign, Ngxanga stated that the ANC will return to the drawing board immediately. An officials meeting is scheduled for Monday, followed by the tabling of a detailed, candid report on Tuesday or Wednesday. This report will investigate the root causes of the declining support and formulate strategies to rebuild public confidence and narrow the gap with voters.
