Mdantsane, Eastern Cape — As the ANC 2026 Local Government Elections approach their climax, President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued final marching orders to party members, urging them to secure a massive voter turnout in the ruling party’s historic stronghold. Speaking at the final Siyanqoba rally at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, Ramaphosa emphasized grassroots mobilization as the party prepares for the decisive November 4 polls.
Ramaphosa commanded volunteers to work until the last minute to prevent the voter complacency that has hindered the party in previous elections. He instructed each volunteer to personally mobilize at least 10 voters to the polls. Highlighting the ANC’s unique grassroots structure, he noted the party’s unmatched ability to connect with citizens from village to village and street to street. Looking ahead to post-election governance, Ramaphosa mandated that all elected ANC councilors must drive local economic growth, attract investment to their municipalities, and report back to their communities within their first 100 days in office.
The final rally sets the stage for a massive national electoral exercise. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is processing 600,000 special votes on Monday and Tuesday, assisting those who require home visits or cannot reach standard voting stations. This preliminary voting will culminate on Wednesday, November 4, when all 27 million registered voters on the IEC roll will cast their ballots. The elections will decide the leadership of all eight metropolitan municipalities—including key battlegrounds like Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay, and the City of Cape Town—as well as district and local municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal.
The Eastern Cape, alongside Limpopo, remains the bedrock of the ANC’s electoral support, widely regarded as the cradle of the movement. However, the party faces intense scrutiny regarding organizational paralysis and governance failures, such as the severe water crises in Ekurhuleni and unspent municipal funds, including R66 billion sitting idle in Buffalo City due to administrative and political failures.
Defending the party’s record, ANC Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson Oscar Mabuyane insisted the ANC manages state affairs effectively and is improving year by year. He did, however, acknowledge significant logistical and administrative failures on the day of the rally itself. Mabuyane admitted that late payments and miscommunication between regional, provincial, and national structures caused transport delays for supporters arriving from areas like Duncan Village and East London. Despite these internal teething problems, he vowed that the Eastern Cape would deliver a decisive victory and warned against letting the province “limp politically” like KwaZulu-Natal.
Addressing the organizational friction, ANC First Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane stated that the party’s internal issues must be handled differently rather than relying solely on conferences. While she acknowledged the administrative challenges regarding rally payments, she framed them as internal matters that do not reflect the party’s connection with voters.
Mokonyane also defended the ANC’s service delivery record, particularly regarding water infrastructure and informal settlements. She attributed water shortages to maintenance failures and climate change, promising that an ANC-led local government would prioritize formalizing informal settlements, providing bulk infrastructure, and insourcing capacity to manage water services professionally.
Crucially, Mokonyane addressed the future of the Government of National Unity (GNU) at the local level. She confirmed that the ANC will re-evaluate its working relationship and coalitions with the Democratic Alliance (DA) after the November 4 elections. She noted that local government coalition dynamics differ significantly from national arrangements, signaling that the party’s post-election alliances will be strictly defined by the six pillars of the ANC’s manifesto.
