Cape Town – The ANC’s electoral committee, led by former president Kgalema Motlanthe, has reportedly presented a concerning assessment of the party’s readiness for the upcoming elections.
The report revealed a significant number of inactive ANC branches, with over 30% failing to nominate candidates, according to Sunday Times.
Disenchantment within the party has led to difficulties in convening branch meetings. Only 2,533 branches out of the previous 3,942 submitted candidate lists.
The party relies on branches for voter engagement and registration.
Senior ANC leaders expressed disagreement during the special national executive committee (NEC) meeting where the report was discussed.
Human settlements minister Mmamoloko Kubayi expressed concern about the findings, saying that the issues align with on-the-ground observations during election work.
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“Mmamoloko said some of the issues are consistent with what we see on the ground as we do election work. She said we must put mechanisms in place for us to have a fighting chance in the election,” an NEC source said.
Former Limpopo education MEC Polly Boshielo warned that volunteers are distancing themselves from the party, emphasizing that people are rejecting the ANC.
“She said our volunteers are running away from us. Everybody is running away from us,” said the NEC source.
“She said the NEC should not shoot the messenger by criticising the report. She said people are rejecting us, and that’s a fact.”
According to The Citizen, recent opinion polls project a potential dip in ANC support below 50% in the 2024 national elections.
A poll by the Brenthurst Foundation and SABI Strategy Group indicated a decline in ANC support from 48% in November 2022 to 41% in October 2023, citing concerns about unemployment, corruption, and load shedding, the report said.
Another report highlighted that former president Thabo Mbeki has a higher favourability perception score than current president Cyril Ramaphosa.
These challenges raise doubts about the ANC’s electoral prospects and the need for strategic measures to address declining support.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
