Ramaphosa rejects polls predicting ANC losses as party makes final election push

President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected opinion polls pointing to declining support for the ANC, insisting the party will outperform its rivals in Wednesday’s local government elections. But as he urged supporters to turn out in numbers, he also warned that a packed rally was no guarantee of votes at the ballot box.

Addressing thousands of supporters at the ANC’s final election rally in Mdantsane, kuGompo City, Ramaphosa described the gathering as evidence that the party remained strong and would continue governing the Eastern Cape.

“We are three days from a very important election. Many people are saying the ANC is on a downward spiral, but from what I am seeing here, the ANC is on the rise and on November 4, we are going to show those that say the ANC is going to lose,” he said.

The Siyanqoba Rally was the party’s final push to mobilise support ahead of the November 4 vote. Ramaphosa urged volunteers not to become complacent or assume that everyone attending the rally would automatically vote for the ANC.

He said low turnout had contributed to the party’s performance in the 2024 national and provincial elections, when some supporters stayed away. He also reiterated the party’s election commitments, including growing the economy, creating jobs and improving municipal service delivery. Ramaphosa also pledged to tackle the treatment of political office as an entitlement, warning that councillors and mayors who failed to perform would be removed.