Ramaphosa dismisses positive DA polling, saying ‘we are on the ground’

President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed polls and recent studies suggesting the DA’s campaign is gaining traction across Gauteng’s metros at the expense of the ANC, insisting his party is heading for an outright victory in the local government elections.

Yesterday I was in Johannesburg, today I am in Tshwane. Many other parties will always dream of victory, but victory belongs to the ANC

“Studies are just studies. We know what’s happening on the ground. The ANC’s campaign is reaching a very high peak. People are responding very positively. We are confident of an outright victory.

“Yesterday I was in Johannesburg, today I am in Tshwane. Many other parties will always dream of victory, but victory belongs to the ANC,” he said.

A fresh eNCA MarkData poll put the MK Party ahead in eThekwini with 48% support, followed by the DA at 25.2% and the ANC at 14.5%.

In Tshwane, ActionSA mayor Nasiphi Moya was named the “ideal mayoral candidate” by 25.9% of respondents, ahead of the DA’s Cilliers Brink at 20.1%, despite widespread electricity infrastructure problems.

“We are repairing the transformers, and making sure that the reform and reconstruction takes place.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that Kingsley hostel residents continued to face significant challenges, including unemployment and unreliability.