ANC mobilises in Eastern Cape before elections - IOL
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has reflected on some of the issues affecting the party in the Eastern Cape.
With just under 30 days remaining until the local government elections, the African National Congress (ANC) is ramping up its efforts to engage with party structures and address ongoing challenges that could impact their electoral performance.
Following a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held on Sunday in KuGompo City, Eastern Cape, ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri and NWC member Thembi Nkadimeng led crucial discussions with ANC branches in the Nelson Mandela Region. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to assess organisational preparedness and election logistics, highlighting the party's commitment to ensuring a strong showing in the upcoming polls.
On the same day, ANC Treasurer General Gwen Ramokgopa was seen actively participating in a door-to-door campaign in Ilitha, Mathemba Vusa Branch Area of Ward 45.
This engagement exemplified the party's grassroots approach, with Ramokgopa assessing the work being done on the ground to galvanise support ahead of the elections.
Over the past few weeks, the ANC has faced significant hurdles, including a legal battle initiated by its members in the Eastern Cape and complications with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) regarding the finalisation of candidate lists.
"In the main, we are dealing with the court interdict of the Provincial Task Team (PTT) which was established by the National Executive Committee (NEC). All those matters have been defended in terms of the courts, and the PEC is back intact. What we are doing now is that we are consolidating the work of the ANC led by Oscar Mabuyane in the province," he stated.
Mbalula further discussed the complications stemming from candidate list submissions to the IEC, stating that the matters are being thoroughly addressed in court and that the party plans to escalate these issues to the Constitutional Court following deliberations at the Electoral Court.
"These matters are fully ventilated now before the courts. We are going to the Constitutional Court after the Electoral Court. That matter will be settled there," he added.
In a move that emphasises the ANC's commitment to community engagement, Mbalula also visited the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of South Africa (EPCSA) for its 22nd Synod, underscoring the church's longstanding role in philanthropic initiatives. Here, he made a pressing call for respect towards women amid rising concerns over gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.
"The foundation of a nation is family. We must teach our young men that no matter what, one must never raise their hand to women. Women must be respected. The ANC does not belong to anyone but the people. This must always be respected. We must support women leaders, and here in Buffalo City we have a woman Mayor. The tendency to easily remove women mayors must stop. Instead, we must support them," he emphasised.
During the same address, Mbalula told the congregation that the party can no longer take voters’ support for granted as it prepares for the 2026 local government elections, stating: "We know that in some places corruption and weak leadership have betrayed the trust of communities. In 2024/2025, only 15% of municipalities achieved clean audits."
