ANC working to achieve ‘an overwhelming victory’ in the next elections – Ramaphosa

African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa says the ruling party is working to achieve an overwhelming victory in the next elections.

Ramaphosa delivered a closing address on the last day of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg on Monday.

Key to this, according to Ramaphosa, is to rebuild and renew the party, which would then enable it to reconnect with communities and gain their trust.

“We have decided that in May, we will hold our election strategy workshop so that our organisation prepares itself for a decisive victory in the 2024 elections,” said Ramaphosa.

ANC, SACP and Cosatu

The president said the ANC would also do “everything in our power” to maintain a healthy working relationship with the SACP and Cosatu.

This comes after the SACP publicly warned that it would contest other parties in the upcoming 2024 general elections if the tripartite alliance collapsed.

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“We will do everything in our power to ensure that working with the SACP and Cosatu bilaterally, the challenges facing the alliance are addressed through a process of urgent robust and comradely engagements that will lead to a strengthened alliance,” said Ramaphosa on Monday.

Coalitions

Ramaphosa said though the ANC was working to achieve “an overwhelming” victory, it had also formulated a framework of engagement should go into coalition governments.

“The ANC cannot participate in a coalition which is simply about the sharing of the spoils of office. Where we have performed badly in elections as the ANC, we should be principled enough to go into opposition,” said Ramaphosa.

“Secondly, where there are coalitions we must ensure these coalitions put the interests of our people first which must of necessity include a stable government with a minimum program that can improve service delivery.”

“We also noted that the current levels of instability have undermined service delivery in a number of municipalities as well as effective administrative management.”

Ramaphosa has previously told ANC members to not enter coalitions “at all costs”.

“The fundamental considerations that inform any agreement we enter into with any party is whether it will enable us to contribute to the improvement of the lives of the residents.

“So, comrades, let me be clear, we are not going to enter into coalitions at all costs, we’re not,” said Ramaphosa at the time.

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