ANC in KZN says it will take back eThekwini as ‘stokvel party is crumbling’

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) says it is regaining strength and confident it will win the City of eThekwini with an outright majority in the upcoming local government elections. The party made the claim after a weekend campaign rally attended by party president Cyril Ramaphosa and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Campaign momentum and party setbacks

The ANC’s deputy convenor in KZN, Siboniso Duma, told supporters that the party is strong enough to contest most municipalities, including the City of eThekwini. He said the party has volunteers and ward-level activities in place across wards and voting districts, and added that this grounds-level presence informs the party’s confidence for the 4th of November election.

Recent challenges and internal changes

The source notes the party suffered a major blow in the last general elections, obtaining only 17% of the vote. That result led the party’s secretary-general and the National Working Committee (NWC) to disband the provincial executive committee (PEC) in KZN and appoint a Provincial Task Team (PTT).

Local problems raised at the rally

Duma identified crime and poor water provision in some wards in eThekwini as problematic for the party. He said priority is being given to communities affected by water issues.

On crime, Duma highlighted specific areas in the northern part of the region and said it affects ANC volunteers and the campaign. He appealed to Ramaphosa to deploy the army to those areas to assist police.

“The campaign of the ANC comrade president is doing very well; we can give you an assurance: come the 4th of November, the ANC will win eThekwini municipality. This is not wishful thinking; we are talking about something we have seen when we do our campaigns.”

Defections and opposition dynamics

Another member of the ANC PTT, Thanudoxolo Sabelo, told the rally that the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party is weakening in KZN because of internal issues. He said those who left the ANC to support the MK party now want to return.

“The ANC is welcoming members from different political parties every day; the stokvel party is crumbling everywhere; our comrades are realising that there is no other hope except the African National Congress (ANC).”

At the event, Sabelo welcomed a former MK party member into the ANC and another person who crossed the floor from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

Where things stand

The ANC remains in a coalition in the City of eThekwini, and party leaders at the rally framed their on-the-ground organising and recent returns of former members as evidence of growing support ahead of the local government vote.