ANC in KZN vows renewal after election setbacks

The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal plans to reassess its performance following setbacks in the 2026 Local Government Elections, according to a statement from the party's provincial spokesperson, Sifiso Sonjica. Sonjica acknowledged areas where the ANC underperformed and pledged to investigate what went wrong, particularly in municipalities plagued by internal divisions and service delivery issues.

While the ANC has lost support in some regions, it has also made gains compared to the 2024 elections, according to Sonjica. Voting margins between the ANC and other parties remained relatively close in certain areas. The party respects voters' decisions to support alternative political parties if they believe the ANC has failed to deliver. Sonjica emphasized that if the ANC is not performing, people have the option to vote for a different party to see if they will perform better.

Internal conflicts within the ANC have affected service delivery in some municipalities, leaving communities frustrated with the party. In Mpandle municipality, for instance, internal divisions among ANC members led to workers going without pay for multiple months from 2025 to 2026, causing severe financial hardship, repossessed vehicles, lost homes, and public protests.

The party's renewal program will prioritize deploying capable and committed individuals to positions of responsibility who prioritize serving communities over personal interests.

Sonjica stated that the ANC will also investigate its performance in municipalities where it had expected better results and is still early to draw conclusions before analyzing the election outcome. The party plans to engage communities through a series of programs, explaining its policies and addressing residents' concerns. However, Sonjica acknowledged legitimate concerns raised by communities about infrastructure and water provision, arguing that some challenges require both capable leadership and a review of how municipalities are funded.

Sonjica also expressed concern about the number of eligible voters who did not participate in the elections, urging the party to understand why many people chose not to vote.