Ramaphosa calls for renewal in Mpumalanga ahead of local elections

By Johnathan Paoli

President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the ANC in Mpumalanga for hosting a disciplined and unified provincial conference, but warned that the party must urgently rebuild trust, fix failing municipalities and reconnect with voters ahead of the local government elections.

Delivering closing remarks at the ANC’s 14th Mpumalanga Provincial Conference at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, Ramaphosa stressed how the party’s disconnection from its supporters led to the present political situation.

Ramaphosa said the party’s disappointing 2024 electoral performance was self-inflicted and must serve as a turning point.

“All I want to stress on is that comrades, the last 2024 elections, I think, was lost by us. We are the ones who lost it. We are the ones who did not perform well. We did not go out to reach our people, we were negligent,” he said.

He warned that renewal was no longer optional, reiterating his call