Staff Reporter
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has started a grassroots push to rebuild support in former strongholds and defend eThekwini ahead of the 2026 local government elections, as the party tries to recover from its bruising defeat to Jacob Zuma’s MK Party.
The party’s provincial task team coordinator, James Nxumalo, addressed residents, ANC members and alliance partners at the Michael Gwala Community Hall in Ntshanga over the weekend in an “intensified renewal campaign”.
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The campaign comes after the MK Party won the most votes in KwaZulu-Natal in the 2024 provincial election, taking 45.3%, ahead of the IFP on 18% and the ANC on 17%.
The next local government elections are scheduled for 4 November, and are expected to test the ANC’s ability to retain control in key municipalities after years of declining electoral support, coalition instability and anger over service delivery failures.
“We came here to remind our people that on 4 November they must defend the gains of democracy by voting for the ANC. We accept the responsibility of renewing our movement and restoring its dignity. We know the hardships facing our communities, and we are committed to rebuilding the trust of our people through visible leadership and hard work on the ground,” Nxumalo said.
The ANC said its leaders, deployees, branches and alliance structures had been called on “to return to the people and intensify political mobilisation at grassroots level” as the party accelerates its renewal programme.
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Nxumalo warned communities “not to be deceived by political formations working together solely to remove the ANC from power without presenting a genuine programme for transformation and development”.
Cosatu provincial secretary Edwin Mkhize also addressed the meeting, reaffirming the alliance between the labour federation and the ANC, and warning against the exploitation of workers.
“We are proud of the revolutionaries who built this movement and defended the dignity of our people. They never fought for positions/ personal gain, but for justice and the total emancipation of the oppressed,” Mkhize said.
The ANC said genuine renewal had to begin in branches and communities, “where leaders must remain visible, accountable and connected to the daily struggles of the people”.
