By Akani Nkuna
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to reclaiming its former stronghold in the Western Cape.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) is in discussions this weekend with the Western Cape Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) as part of ongoing initiatives to enhance organisational capacity, foster unity and engage directly with grassroots structures across regions and districts.
Mbalula said that the focus is not merely on increasing membership numbers, which don’t always translate into votes.
Instead, the priority lies in consolidating the organisation’s strength and ignoring the activities of opposition parties.
“We are not chasing membership targets, but we are rather rebuilding our organisation root and branch. Membership figures fluctuate nationwide, but our goal is quality over quantity,” said Mbalula.
“We aim to strengthen branches that are responsive to people’s needs and committed to the ANC’s renewal agenda.”
Earlier on Saturday, Mbalula attended the funeral of Theresa Solomon, the first Black mayor of Cape Town (1996-1998), seizing the opportunity to address the media in Lansdowne, Western Cape, where he reiterated the ANC’s commitment to strengthen its presence in the province.
“Our objective remains to build a more effective organisation that delivers improved services,” he said.
“While recent election results in the province are concerning, responsibility lies with the entire ANC body, not just Western Cape leaders. We must introspect and realign with public expectations.”
Mbalula expressed confidence in the ANC’s ability to govern the Western Cape with the right leadership and a renewed focus on grassroots support.
“Tomorrow, the ANC National Working Committee will review reports from regional branch meetings, integrating them into our strategy for provincial rebuilding,” Mbalula said.
On Saturday, President Cyril Ramaphosa also held a closed-door community meeting in Paarl to engage with local concerns and address the ANC’s challenges in the Boland region.
The party’s support in the Western Cape has been in steady decline, dropping from 26% in the 2016 municipal elections to just over 20% in 2021.
After several years under administration, the province elected a new ANC leadership in 2023 in a bid to revitalise the party’s presence.
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