Ramaphosa urges ANC supporters to vote in numbers in Western Cape

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on ANC supporters in eMfuleni to cast their ballots in large numbers during the upcoming local government elections, as the party aims to regain control of Cape Town and challenge the DA's dominance in the Western Cape. Speaking to around 300 volunteers at the Zolile Malindi Centre on Saturday, 17 October, Ramaphosa was on a two-day campaign tour in the province, where the ANC has experienced difficulty in expanding its support.

Ramaphosa urged his followers to "go out in our numbers and dethrone the current government in Cape Town" and reminded them that the ANC has done much for the people. "Cape Town is a tale of two cities, where one city is well taken care of while the other is neglected. If the ANC gets into government, we will change that," he said. He urged supporters to wake up early on election day to vote and noted that other parties gain support due to early voting or special votes.

The ANC leader also criticized the Western Cape provincial government for returning R680 million allocated by the Treasury for housing developments, arguing that these issues should prompt voters to support the ANC. Furthermore, Ramaphosa emphasized the unemployment crisis, stating that the ANC government is pushing for the employment age to be extended beyond the current 18-35 years cap.

Mdumiseni Ntuli, the ANC head of elections, acknowledged that the party had lost significant support in the Western Cape since the 2006 local government elections. However, he said recent by-elections suggest that the party is regaining some supporters. "We may not win the City, but we stand a good chance to drop the support of the Democratic Alliance significantly," Ntuli said, adding that a coalition government in the city would be preferable to the status quo.

Ntuli highlighted eMfuleni as a prime example of the "tale of two cities," describing the majority of residents living in abject poverty and substandard living conditions. He acknowledged that local issues should be addressed by the municipal government. Ntuli expressed hope that the chosen candidate to lead the eMfuleni ward would improve relations with the population.

Despite the party's efforts, some ANC supporters expressed disappointment and a loss of hope in the current leadership. Norman Notiki, an angry eMfuleni resident, stated that the ANC has failed to improve their living conditions, while Veliswa Tsipa, an unemployed mother, believed that Ramaphosa's visit would not make a difference. She argued that corruption has taken over and leaders are only concerned with retaining their positions.