ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says a poor result in the November local government elections could damage the standing of the party’s current leadership.
Mbalula told SABC News that another weak performance could trigger calls for leaders to step down and deepen tensions inside the organisation. His comments are a political assessment, not a confirmed forecast of the election result.
The ANC received about 46% of the vote in the 2021 municipal elections, falling below 50% nationally for the first time in a local poll. Its national support declined further to about 40% in the 2024 general election.
Mbalula said the party was concerned about falling below its 2021 local-election share. The November vote will test whether the ANC has stabilised its support after losing its national majority and entering a government of national unity.
The party is also dealing with a separate dispute over candidate-list submissions. It has approached the Electoral Court after the IEC refused to accept candidates whom the ANC says were affected by problems during the submission process.
The election result will be decided by voters across municipalities, while any consequences for the ANC leadership would be determined through the party’s own structures.
