• Raliphi ‘Master Push’ Xolelizwe from Chief Mogale writes:
“If these elections were national elections the ANC would be out of power by now.” These were the words of the electorates.
Just less than 30% of South Africa made a decision on Monday, November 1 and that decision has seen the ANC’s support of local government level plummet to about 46%. This is the poorest showing the party has ever seen.
Imagine only 12 million – 46% of the 26,2 million registered voters turn up at the polls, the lowest voter turnout since 1994. The election delivered a double first. Honestly, this year’s elections were very, very painful. For the first time since 1994 the ANC failed to garner 50% of the votes.
It was a difficult election to campaign and there wasn’t a lot of time. Also, an election campaign is difficult. It is different from doing good community work. You need resources, and money and volunteers to get the word out to tell people the organisation is running.
The poor results were expected in light of low service delivery rates and the deteriorating economy, which has led to high unemployment rates in the country. The electorate made the party bleed when it saw a decline in support of 17,75% (from 48,84% to 40,17%) compared to the previous municipal elections of 2016.
Making matters worse is the ANC’s internal battles with some people blaming the organisational disunity, factionalism, corruption and patronage within the party itself. This has had a significant impact on voters’ attitudes towards the organisation.
I mean it is very painful to see the ANC, the largest party in all 115 voting districts which make up 39 wards across Mogale City and include Kagiso, Azaadville, Munsieville, Muldersdrift, Tarlton, Magaliesburg, Hekpoort and Krugersdorp, has come out in the lead with a low 40,17% of the votes.
Of the 77 council seats available in Mogale CIty, the ANC has been allocated 31, with the remaining seats available to the smaller parties in the city. Turnout was also less than half of registered voters, falling at least 10% points from the last election in 2016.
This election has sent a very clear and strong message to the ANC. 10,6 million South Africans voted for the ANC in these elections.
They reaffirmed their confidence in the ANC to lead their municipalities and to provide the services they need. With 66 hung municipalities for the ANC, our position is clear. We are not going to enter into coalition at all costs. People must know we are not on our knees. If we must be in opposition, we will be in opposition.
