RIVERSIDE, GAUTENG — As the November polls approach, the ANC 2026 Local Government Elections manifesto is drawing sharp criticism for its disconnect from grassroots realities. According to political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu of Nelson Mandela University, the ruling party’s latest campaign document struggles to mask deepening factional disputes and a persistent track record of unfulfilled service delivery promises.
The decision to launch the manifesto in Riverside, situated near Diepsloot, was a calculated move by party leadership. Rather than visiting municipalities plagued by service collapse, the ANC selected a location showcasing a “semblance of hope” in housing and infrastructure development. During his opening address, the President conceded that while the movement has achieved notable successes, it remains acutely aware of the areas where it has failed. Professor Mngomezulu highlighted this as a rare display of honesty from the party’s leader, though he remains doubtful that such admissions will catalyze tangible action.
This curated narrative sharply clashes with the lived experiences of local communities. Historically staunch supporters, elderly residents are increasingly expressing a loss of faith in the party’s trajectory. Illustrating this disconnect, Professor Mngomezulu pointed to severe local water shortages, noting that while a nearby dam diverts water through five entrances to the Indian Ocean, residents—including himself—lack basic running water. He directly challenged recent claims made by the President, who, while just seven kilometers away, falsely asserted to the media that water provision had been resolved.
The generational divide further complicates the ANC’s electoral prospects. Younger voters, largely indifferent to the party’s liberation legacy, are evaluating political formations strictly on current socioeconomic conditions. With the unemployment rate climbing by 0.9%, qualified university graduates are finding themselves jobless, while well-connected individuals secure employment. This day-to-day reality, the analyst noted, is what truly drives voter assessment, making the loss of elderly support a compounding liability.
Critiquing the manifesto’s overarching theme of “a better life for all,” Professor Mngomezulu invoked George Orwell’s *Animal Farm*, observing that the promise increasingly resembles a reality where “some are more equal than others.” He argued that cosmetic adjustments, such as condensing a 10-point plan into six points, hold little weight for an electorate that rarely reads these documents and cares solely about post-election outcomes. Furthermore, pledges to appoint qualified individuals to public office are neither novel nor historically implemented, rendering the manifesto’s polished language hollow without execution.
Underscoring the party’s internal turmoil, the ANC abruptly reversed its decision to announce mayoral candidates for major metropolitan areas just before the manifesto launch. Originally slated for release the previous day, the reveal was indefinitely postponed. Professor Mngomezulu dismissed suggestions that this delay stems from rigorous due diligence, attributing it instead to intense factional infighting and an inability to reach a consensus on leadership appointments.
To mitigate internal friction, the party reportedly plans to placate unsuccessful mayoral hopefuls by placing them in provincial or national legislatures. However, Professor Mngomezulu raised a critical governance question: are these individuals being appointed to preserve party unity, or do they genuinely possess the requisite skills and knowledge to serve the public effectively? As the November elections loom, the ANC must bridge the widening chasm between its campaign rhetoric and the urgent, unmet needs of the communities it seeks to govern.
