EKURHULENI, GAUTENG — As the African National Congress (ANC) launches its voter registration campaign in Ekurhuleni, party leadership has made its electoral stance clear: the ANC prefers to govern alone. Acting National Spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli emphasized the ruling party’s commitment to reclaiming sole control in key metropolitan areas ahead of the 2026 local government elections, highlighting a robust push to secure the youth vote and restore stability to local municipalities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa led the party’s voter registration drive at a local primary school in Ward 80 of the Ekurhuleni metro, a region where the ANC’s electoral performance has faced significant challenges. In the 2021 local elections, the party’s representation in the metro declined sharply, securing only 86 of the 224 council seats. This marks a steep drop from less than a decade ago when the party held a clean majority, and follows a historic dip below the 50% mark in 2016.
The push for a sole majority comes amid ongoing instability in coalition politics within the metro, highlighted by recent changes to the mayoral committee as recently as February. Addressing these challenges, Mhlauli stated that while the ANC prefers to govern independently as the largest party in the country, the electorate has indicated a desire for coalition governments. However, she noted that the party has the next four months to put its best foot forward and reconnect with the people.
To address the electoral decline, the ANC declared 2026 the “year to fix local government and transform the economy.” This follows the adoption of a local government action plan last year, which the party recently reviewed. Mhlauli pointed to “green shoots” of a turnaround in certain municipalities, attributing previous electoral losses directly to service delivery challenges at the local government level.
A major focal point for the party is addressing the impact of corruption on its public image. Mhlauli welcomed President Ramaphosa’s decision to establish a commission of inquiry into local government, aligning with the broader anti-corruption efforts seen during the Madlanga Commission. She emphasized that the ANC supports cleaning out the rot within the municipalities it governs, noting that the commission has already resulted in individuals facing legal consequences and being brought to book.
Furthermore, the party is heavily focused on mobilizing the youth vote, recognizing the direct correlation between new voter registrations during registration weekends and success on polling day. With the country observing Youth Month and marking the 50th anniversary of the June 16 uprisings, Ramaphosa has been urging young citizens to take ownership of their democracy. Mhlauli echoed this sentiment, stressing that the next 50 years of South Africa will be shaped by the current youth demographic.
Despite the renewed campaign efforts, the ANC faces a steep uphill battle. Historically, once the party loses its grip on power in major metros, it has struggled to recover and regain control. As President Ramaphosa continues his tour of various wards and local shopping centers in Ekurhuleni, the upcoming November local government polls will serve as a critical test of whether the ANC can successfully claw back the support it has lost over the past decade.