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| As the 2024 elections draw closer, the ANC has seen a drop in their support, raising questions of where voters might end putting their trust in. (picture sourced: Rajesh Jantilal/AFP/Getty Images) |
By: Avuyile Sawula
Leaders of the governing party are not ruling out a decline below 50% in the upcoming national elections in 2024.
The ANC, which has been in power since 1994, has seen a decline in support recently. A decline influenced by poor service delivery, corruption, and decreasing levels of trust, according to ANC head of policy, Jeff Radebe.
In the 2021 local government elections, Ramaphosa’s party registered a total of 45,59%, a drop from the 53,91% achieved in 2016. The party also lost control of major metros as they only registered above 50% in Manguang and Buffalo City, respectively.
Local elections may not be a true reflection of what could transpire come national elections. However, the National Chairperson of the ANC, Gwede Mantashe, believes the party could encounter trouble if nothing “dramatic” is done.
“Our support has declined dramatically,” said Mantshe during the 14th ANC Gauteng Provincial Conference in Benoni.
"We were below 50% in 2021, and have fallen below 40% in all three metros in Gauteng. This is an issue we need to focus on. If we don’t do something dramatic, we are going to be in trouble,” he added.
A recent poll conducted by IPSOS echoed the sentiments of Mantashe.
The poll, which is used to gauge current political feelings more than predicting an outcome, showed the ANC winning the elections with 42%, followed by the DA (11%), and EFF (9%) if elections were to be held tomorrow.
Though there are plenty of other reasons for the ANC’s decline, the party will look to use the upcoming elective conference in December to resolve its internal divisions going forward.
Opposing parties are also facing challenges in convincing the public to vote otherwise.
The DA still faces claims of racism, while voters are reluctant to vote for land “reformists” EFF.
ActionSA and Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance are also gaining momentum, making the race even more intense as the elections loom closer.