President Cyril Ramaphosa attends the ANC's 113th anniversary celebrations held at Nelson Mandela Park in Khayelitsha, Cape Town on January 11, 2025. (Photo by Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
As the country prepares for local government elections in 2026, the ANC hopes to capitalize on the discontent of residents in areas such as Khayelitsha in the Western Cape to regain power in Cape Town and other municipalities.
Cape Town has been under the control of the Democratic Alliance since 2006, but some residents of Khayelitsha have expressed their concerns through voting, saying they live in “poor” conditions while wealthier areas are well-served. He says he will make his voice heard.
Some residents say the ANC, whose support has declined across the country and has been relegated to opposition in some of the country's wealthiest metropolitan areas, has learned from its past mistakes and is now trying to make amends. Some people believe that.
The ruling party held January 8 celebrations in the town this weekend, saying it was an attempt to reconnect the Western Cape's urban voter base, which has been under DA control since 2009.
The town has high crime and unemployment rates, but is located just 40 kilometers from Cape Town, one of South Africa's wealthiest cities and a popular international tourist destination.
Cape Town prides itself on its well-maintained roads, visible security and thriving tourism industry, but residents of Cape Town's poorer communities say they experience a very different reality.
Khayelitsha resident Thandiswa Bolani said she would not be happy if the ANC were to form a coalition with the DA after 2026. The DA is the “oppressive political party against black people in Khayelitsha”.
Mr Bolani accused the DA of not maintaining the mobile toilets provided to residents of the township.
“The DA's office is undermining black people here. They are oppressive against black people here. We complain every day about clogged drains. We have to provide water to our residents. We are struggling to maintain water pipes that need to be repaired.”
“When we arrive in this area we are told that the pipes are closed and in another area they are open. We are also told that the water provided is not clean and must be boiled before drinking. Masu.”
“Despite the fact that we have a company that collects trash, we can see that trash is piling up.”
He said “black people” are not held to the same standards in the state as white people or people who live in wealthier areas.
“I am happy that the ANC is leading the government nationally and I hope that it continues to be in power for the next 100 years.”
Another resident, Malibongwe Jack, said he was “tired” of the DA-led city government and insisted residents “want the ANC back”.
Mr Jack said when the ANC lost the province they were not doing well, but the DA had not improved service delivery or living standards in the townships.
Jack believes the ANC has changed its ways.
“The ANC recognizes their mistakes and wants to come back and correct them.”
The ANC is in coalition with the DA both nationally and in KZN, with the possibility of further governance at local government level after the next election. But residents insist they do not support such an arrangement at the local level.
Another resident, Kayaletu Nolokwe, said: “Nationally I don't mind the GNU, but I don't want the ANC working with the DA in the province.” “I would like to see the ANC take over the Western Cape again, as it did after the 1994 elections,” he said.
“The DA has ruled for the past few years and people understand that the DA has not done anything for them. So we need the ANC back in power.”
Mr Nolokwe said he had full confidence that the ANC would also create job opportunities in the province once it came to power.
Dissatisfaction with the DA's governance in the Western Cape's townships is something the ANC will seek to exploit to rebuild support in the province.
This was one of the reasons why President Cyril Ramaphosa held the January 8 event in Khayelitsha to release this year's party statement.
In the Cape Town metro, support for the ANC has steadily declined over the years. In the 2021 local elections, the vote share was only 18.6%, down from 24.36% in 2016.
ANC Western Cape provincial chairperson Buyiso Tiharisis said the Western Cape had been ruled by the DA for 20 years and the gap between rich and poor had worsened.
He said the ANC had a number of options to hold its January 8 statement elsewhere, but because of the party's “analysis” he thought it was time to “reconnect with the people”.
This was the sentiment expressed by many ANC leaders when asked why they would hold a rally in such a small stadium. But Cape Town Mayor Jordyn Hill-Lewis threw cold water on the reason, telling X:
“For the record, the ANC did not book Khayelitsha Stadium ‘out of concern’ for residents. They are lying.
“They booked this venue because they simply didn’t have the ability to book other venues in time. They only tried to book Cape Town Stadium for mid-November 2024! They already had a Stormers game was reserved for.
“Then they tried Athlone Stadium, which was also booked for the Klopse carnival. “In late November and again in early December, several ANC office workers called me and asked for help. They said we were trying to sabotage them by denying them entry to the stadium! LOL!
My last conversation was on December 5th, and at that point they still had no reservations. So don't believe their nonsense. ”
Tiflisis said the holding of commemorative ceremonies and rehabilitation programs in the Western Cape helped expose the living conditions of the poor.
He said the ANC had called on the SA Human Rights Commission to investigate the conditions of the poor.
Mr Tiflsis said the ANC would mobilize people on issues at the local government level between now and the election.
“We want to power our buildings, power our bases so that we can be ready for 2026. We want our employees to come out and support the ANC. We would like to further strengthen our efforts.”
“In the informal settlement, 26 families share a toilet, one standpipe, but we have so far maintained that we are not satisfied and are calling for the people to exclude the DA from the upcoming elections. “The time has come to mobilize,” he said.
Following a visit to Khayelitsha last week, in response to allegations of neglect of townships in Cape Town raised by Deputy President Paul Mashatil, DA federal chair Helen Zille told X that the ANC would fulfill its responsibilities in the areas it governs. I wrote that the time has come to concentrate on , rather than spreading falsehoods about the D.A.
Gill pointed out that Khayelitsha's sewage pumping station has security measures in place, including security guards and surveillance cameras, to combat vandalism and theft that frequently cause sewage spills and service disruptions.
She questioned why communities would destroy their critical infrastructure.
“An R3.5 Mil LED public lighting retrofit project is underway to improve safety and visibility in Khayelitsha. City police resources will be deployed in low-income communities, including increased LEAP deployment in Khayelitsha and other areas. ,” Gill wrote.
“Cape Town has the lowest unemployment rate in SA, with an increase of 300,000 jobs since November 2021. R395-billion infrastructure plan will create 130,000 construction jobs over the next three years “I guess,” she wrote.
Mr Tiflisis said the DA was refusing to work with the ANC in Hangu municipality, where both parties could easily enjoy a majority of more than 50% in the province, choosing to work with smaller parties.
He said the ANC had written to the DA last year to get involved with the various regional unity governments, but had been refused.
“We are not allergic to working with them to improve the quality of life of our citizens. That is why, if required by Congress or Congress, we will work with them to provide services to our residents. Talk to them and advise them on how to work in the community rather than against them.”
Tiflisis said he believes the DA can improve its performance in 2026 based on the experience of Black and people of color voters in areas under its jurisdiction.
“We think it will get better and better, especially in rural areas. In the May 29th election, people did not go to vote because of our own subjective weaknesses,” he said. Ta.
“Congress' conduct in the way it governs is frustrating the people. It mobilizes them and pushes them to come back and vote. We think next year will give the people the opportunity to govern in local government. '' he said.
