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ANC vows grassroots comeback to reclaim metros amid Phala Phala shadow
The African National Congress (ANC)
Former North West Premier and chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Supra Mahumapelo, said the ANC had analysed its shortcomings after suffering setbacks in places such as Tshwane and Johannesburg and was implementing measures to reverse those losses. “Based on the ANC’s performance in the last local government elections, we have seen and analysed where we went wrong,” he said. Mahumapelo said the party’s response prioritises rebuilding trust and improving direct engagement with voters. “The plan we have in place includes, among others, speaking better, consistently and more in touch with the people on the ground,” he said. He added the party wants to explain “what it is that we have achieved,” outline “what is in the pipeline?” and show “how the ANC can be used by people as their own instrument to overcome the challenges that they face.” Reflecting on past campaigns, Mahumapelo said the ANC sometimes focused too heavily on electioneering and not enough on listening. “I think sometimes we are in a hurry when we campaign. We have agreed that we must reduce the pace a bit so that we listen more to the people,” he said. He expressed confidence that the party’s plan would enable it to recover many municipalities: “Our plan is such that we will be able to recover most of the municipalities. So let’s push and see what the results will be like.” The interview also addressed concerns about the political fallout from the Phala Phala matter involving President Cyril Ramaphosa. Mahumapelo said the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had discussed the Section 89 report of Parliament and decided that senior leadership structures would manage its political implications. “The National Executive Committee has discussed the Section 89 report of Parliament,” he said. “Our agreement as the National Executive Committee is that the leadership at the high echelons of the organisation will attend to the political dynamics of the matter and the political imperatives.” On parliamentary responsibility, Mahumapelo said: “In Parliament, the Chief Whip will be at the helm of the matter, working with the Office of the Secretary-General. The rest of us must focus on our work and make sure that the ANC wins the elections.” Mahumapelo acknowledged it was unclear whether the Phala Phala controversy would affect voter behaviour. When asked directly if it would influence the ANC’s electoral performance he said: “Well, we don’t know.” He added that the party’s programme must help manage perceptions that the matter could impact election results: “What we have developed as the ANC is that our programme, particularly from perceptions’ point of view, must be such that it helps us to manage the perceptions that it can impact on the performance of the ANC in the elections.” The ANC’s losses in the 2021 local government elections led to coalitions controlling several major metros. The outcome highlighted voter frustration over service delivery failures, corruption allegations, economic hardship and factional battles within the party factors Mahumapelo and the ANC say they have examined as they prepare for future contests. For Mahumapelo, the immediate focus is clear: listen more closely, reconnect with communities and convert lessons from past defeats into electoral gains.Rebuilding at community level
Changing campaign approach
Phala Phala and party management
Uncertain electoral impact
Context: what went wrong
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Source: iol.co.za
