Ramaphosa heads to eThekwini as ANC battles to win back metro
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is on a campaign trail in the eThekwini metro in KwaZulu-Natal over the next two days. The ANC lost its outright majority in the metro in the 2021 Local Government Elections. It is now governing the city through a coalition.
This Friday, Ramaphosa will be in Hammarsdale, where he is expected to engage with residents and ANC supporters. ANC provincial task team convenor Mike Mabuyakhulu says the party is expecting the outcomes of the 2026 municipal elections to be different from the declines of the previous two polls.
South African President and African National Congress leader Cyril Ramaphosa campaigned in the eThekwini metropolitan municipality, where residents spoke to him about unemployment, housing, social grants, crime and municipal services. As TimesLIVE reports, the politician went door to door in an effort to bolster support for the ANC ahead of the November elections.
He said municipalities must provide water supply, refuse collection and electricity. Ramaphosa also acknowledged delays in rebuilding communities affected by devastating floods, but assured that the promises would be fulfilled. In the 2021 local elections, the ANC won 42.02% of the vote in eThekwini, the Democratic Alliance received 26.62%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters party got 10.48%. The ANC then lost its outright majority. This year, the MK party, which has significant support in the KwaZulu-Natal province, is also competing for control of the metropolitan municipality.
In Ward 6, Ramaphosa met 66-year-old Makhosazana Mbikhwana. She said that her house, which was damaged during political violence in the 1980s, needs repairs: its roof leaks, the walls have cracks and bullet holes. According to the woman, one of her sons was killed during that political violence. Mbikhwana also said that she was denied a social grant by the South African Social Security Agency, Sassa. She asked the president to create employment opportunities because her educated children cannot find work. The woman stressed that a lack of jobs can push young people into crime.
At a meeting with thousands of people in Molweni, Ramaphosa said he felt support for the ANC on the ground and expressed confidence in the party’s victory. At the same time, residents demanded jobs, proper service delivery, housing, infrastructure and safety. The president addressed ANC candidates and local council members, urging them to be accountable to voters and not use their positions in the interests of friends and relatives.
“The president is in the city, in KwaZulu-Natal, and the response is positive. And of course, ground lost is not something you can then say is permanent. It’s because people, many people, did not turn out to the voting station. And now we’re encouraging them that these elections are a do or die.” — ANC NEC member and eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba
Ramaphosa’s visit took place several days after a mass shooting in the Ziko area of KwaMakhuta, south of Durban. According to police, three men entered a house where 14 people were present and opened fire: 11 people were killed and three others were injured. The motive for the attack has not yet been established. Ramaphosa acknowledged that police are overburdened and that there are not enough law enforcement officers.