DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – In a significant show of organisational strength, the African National Congress has convened a major volunteer assembly in Overport, eThekwini, with Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula leading the charge to galvanise support ahead of local government elections.
Approximately 10,000 party volunteers from across KwaZulu-Natal gathered at a local sports stadium to receive strategic direction as part of the ANC’s broader renewal and community outreach initiative. The mobilisation drive tasks these grassroots members with conducting intensive door-to-door engagement, aiming to connect directly with residents and secure backing for the party in the upcoming municipal vote.
Addressing the assembly, the ANC regional coordinator highlighted the party’s ambitious electoral objective for the eThekwini metropolitan area. “We have put for ourselves a target of 1.2 million votes so that we are able to control the municipality alone,” the coordinator stated. This goal reflects the ANC’s intention to regain sole governing authority, as the municipality is presently administered by a multi-party coalition—a arrangement the party contends has complicated service delivery and governance.
The coordinator openly recognised persistent community grievances, including intermittent water supply and electricity infrastructure concerns. However, they pointed to concrete interventions designed to address these issues. Reference was made to the Umkhomazi Dam project as a strategic, long-term solution for sustainable water access across the city, complemented by shorter-term measures to stabilise electricity provision. “We are not saying we are without challenges. We know there are challenges, but what we are saying is there’s a commitment to fix those challenges,” the coordinator affirmed, stressing that work is already progressing on the ground.
Parallel to the public mobilisation effort, the ANC is advancing its internal candidate nomination process. The regional coordinator reported that branch-level consultations are proceeding constructively, with community members playing an active role in putting forward names. “There’s peace in our branch meetings. There is no longer the infighting that used to exist. Now the organisation is sailing smoothly,” they noted, confirming that the party remains on track to meet all procedural deadlines for candidate finalisation.
The assembly also dovetailed with national efforts to boost voter participation, with volunteers encouraged to assist residents in registering ahead of the official voter registration weekend set for 20–21 June. Party leadership underscored that ensuring an informed and registered electorate is central to democratic engagement.
Mbalula’s address was delivered in the presence of senior ANC figures, including members of the National Executive Committee and the provincial task team. Their presence signals the strategic weight the party places on eThekwini—a key metropolitan hub with considerable influence both provincially and nationally. Leadership also highlighted the deliberate inclusion of young people and women among the volunteer cohort, reflecting the ANC’s commitment to representative and inclusive mobilisation.
As volunteers prepare to fan out across communities, their mandate extends beyond campaigning: they are tasked with communicating a message of renewal, acknowledging existing service delivery hurdles while outlining the party’s concrete plans to address them. With the electoral timeline tightening, the ANC’s grassroots push in eThekwini represents a critical phase in its broader strategy to secure a decisive mandate from voters.