GAUTENG — African National Congress (ANC) Gauteng provincial convener Panyaza Lesufi has forcefully defended the ruling party’s developmental track record, asserting that no one can accuse the ANC government of not building new schools, roads, clinics, or hospitals. Speaking at the party’s manifesto launch ahead of the November local government elections, Lesufi addressed growing voter skepticism by pointing to tangible infrastructure gains, while candidly admitting that unmanaged migration has severely strained the province’s service delivery capacity.
Lesufi described the ANC as an “unfortunate party” facing a moving target of voter dissatisfaction. He explained that citizens often withhold their votes due to isolated, unmet individual needs—such as lacking housing, unemployment, unresolved NSFAS issues, or localized problems like potholes and power outages—despite broader macroeconomic and infrastructural progress. He conceded that historical budgeting and spatial planning failed to anticipate the massive population influx from other South African provinces and the broader African continent. To arrest this trend, Lesufi stated the new manifesto introduces strict monitoring protocols, clear bottom-line expectations, and defined responsibilities for every municipality and ward councilor.
Addressing the complexities of coalition governance, Lesufi highlighted the ANC’s strategic resurgence in local government. He noted that through strategic coalition management, the party now directly or indirectly influences 10 of the 11 municipalities it had previously lost. Pushing back on narratives surrounding Johannesburg’s ongoing instability, Lesufi clarified that the ANC governed the metro for less than 21 months, whereas the Democratic Alliance (DA) led the city for over eight years, leaving behind a systemic crisis. He asserted that the ANC is currently rectifying that mess, citing a recent R5 billion payment to Eskom, the reversal of adverse financial audit outcomes in Tshwane, and ongoing efforts to dismantle state capture networks in Ekurhuleni.
Lesufi also leveled sharp criticism at the DA, alleging the party is resistant to servicing communities and pointing to allegations of sophisticated corruption, including the illicit movement of billions of rands out of the country. Conversely, he championed the ANC’s economic stewardship, pointing to spatial planning successes along the R59 and R24 corridors, the transformation of Limbro Park, and the post-1994 development of Waterfall into a new city. He highlighted Riverside as a model for integrated human settlements where diverse income groups coexist with access to clean infrastructure, retail, and industrial zones. As proof of local economic development, he noted a major R3 million investment by a Chinese firm, Cherry, in a local industrial area facilitated by municipal government.
The manifesto launch drew dedicated supporters, including Shandupa Zonafal, who traveled from Limpopo specifically to hear the ANC president’s address. Zonafal expressed enduring faith in the party but stressed the urgent need for actionable plans regarding youth employment and rural revitalization. He praised the local leadership in his area, specifically highlighting Mayor Miyelani Chauke in Vhembe for actively expanding water access and creating youth employment opportunities on the ground.
Despite these macro-level claims, local realities remain complex. Residents in Riverside offered mixed reactions to the upcoming elections. While some remain hopeful, others expressed fatigue over recurring political pledges. Community members, including a local resident named Bum, voiced pressing concerns over the absence of a police station, clinic, and school. These gaps force children and families to endure long, difficult commutes to neighboring towns for basic education and healthcare, a challenge that is particularly acute during the winter season.
With local government elections looming, political commentators like Maki Bing have noted the perilous position of incumbents and the public’s growing demand for measurable accountability over mere promises. Concluding his address, Lesufi urged the electorate to look beyond isolated service complaints and recognize the collective developmental progress steered by the ANC. He emphasized that the party’s control over the national fiscal budget and international relations makes it the only viable architect for the country’s future, warning that opposition parties can only make promises without the ANC’s collaborative governance.
