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ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the upcoming 2026 local government elections will be a vital test for the party, and that to secure victory it must field its most \u201cdedicated, honest and capable candidates.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ramaphosa made the remarks on Thursday during his closing address at the National General Council (NGC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, where the organisation reviewed its performance.<\/span><\/p>\n He said the NGC acknowledged that local government remains the sphere of government closest to the daily lives of South Africans.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAccordingly, the role of local government in all socioeconomic transformation is central to the development agenda of our country.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe NGC has affirmed today that municipal administration in South Africa is capable and that professional administration must be insulated from undue political interference,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n He warned against political meddling in procurement processes, water services and general municipal operations.<\/span><\/p>\n Ramaphosa added that as the review of the White Paper on Local Government continues, ANC structures must ensure the resulting framework meets all objectives of an improved and accountable local government system.<\/span><\/p>\n He said the NGC also reaffirmed the important role of traditional and political leadership in ensuring joint planning between municipalities and traditional councils.<\/span><\/p>\n The council further mandated the government to ensure that the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development and traditional leadership institutions resolve outstanding land reform matters.<\/span><\/p>\n Ramaphosa said the district development model must remain the primary mechanism for integrated planning, budgeting and service delivery across all levels of government, with the guiding principle of \u201cone plan, one budget, one approach\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNext year we will contest the 2026 local government election. This will be an important test of the extent to which we manage to renew the support and confidence of our people,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTo win decisively, the ANC must field our most dedicated, honest and competent candidates.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe must also work tirelessly in voting districts, going door to door to explain why the ANC remains the only party that can meet the needs of all our country\u2019s people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He claimed that the door-to-door strategy had historically been effective.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn 1994 and throughout various elections we were able to acquire high levels of support because we focused on door-to-door.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe even reached a point where we knew how each household would vote. Our network was rich, it was good, it was great.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ramaphosa\u2019s comments come as the ANC faces an uphill battle to retain key urban municipalities in 2026 amid corruption allegations and failing service delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n The rise of the MK Party, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, has added further pressure, with the party recently winning another ward from the ANC.<\/span><\/p>\n Mandeni Local Municipality\u2019s Ward 17 became vacant after the ANC suspended councillor Siphesihle Ntuli following a criminal complaint by the family of slain resident Siyabonga Makhoba. <\/span><\/p>\n In the by-election, the ANC\u2019s candidate received just 36% of the vote, while the MK Party secured 48%. <\/span><\/p>\n The result stripped the ANC of its majority in the 35-seat council, leaving it with 17 seats.<\/span><\/p>\n ANC NEC member Dickson Masemola previously told News that the party was \u201cnot shaken\u201d by the MK Party\u2019s growth in KwaZulu-Natal, despite warnings that Jacob Zuma\u2019s party could secure outright majorities in some municipalities.<\/span><\/p>\n Masemola admitted the ANC had performed poorly in the province, as well as in the May 2024 general elections, which led to the formation of the Government of National Unity.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe ANC in the 2024 national and provincial elections did not perform as we expected. It came as a surprise,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n However, he insisted the party was regaining lost ground and working closely with provincial and regional structures.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI am confident the people of KZN don\u2019t dislike the ANC. There were things not properly handled before the national elections. But we are gradually regaining ground and political presence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said the NGC confirmed that central to the ANC\u2019s mission is driving inclusive economic growth, creating jobs and promoting equality.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe have embarked on a path of economic recovery and transformation. Like the renewal of our movement, this recovery is beginning to gain momentum.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He said the difficult years were giving way to \u201ca new era of progress, confidence and hope\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur task now is to ensure that our country and its people see the effects of the changes we have brought about in their lives. They must feel the benefit of jobs being created, new businesses starting up, young people gaining skills, services being reliably delivered, and social infrastructure being built.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He said communities must also feel safe and receive honest, helpful and accountable public service.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs we depart from this NGC, as we return to our communities, let us be more determined than ever to bring about the changes our country needs,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za<\/p>\n Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the upcoming 2026 local government elections will be a vital test for the party, and that to secure victory it must field its most \u201cdedicated, honest and capable candidates.\u201d Ramaphosa made the remarks on Thursday during his closing address at the National General Council (NGC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":265733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[2475,11557,1490,967,2076,468,6411,426,9756],"class_list":["post-265732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politics","tag-anc","tag-crucial","tag-elections","tag-growing","tag-local","tag-pressures","tag-ramaphosa","tag-test"],"yoast_head":"\nGet your news on the go. 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