‘The people have spoken’, says ANC as DA edges towards 50+1 in Nelson Mandela Bay - News24

The ANC in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro has taken a defeated tone, saying the party’s electoral decline in Gqeberha is a “message” from residents who still live with dry taps, failing infrastructure, unstable council politics, and services that “fall short of what they deserve”.

In a statement, ANC Nelson Mandela Bay regional spokesperson Bamanye Matiwane said: “The Freedom Charter declares that the people shall govern. The people of Nelson Mandela Bay have exercised that right. The ANC accepts their verdict with humility. We commit to earning back their trust through action rather than words.”

As at noon on Friday, the DA had garnered 250 839 votes, or 44.79%, signalling that the party could win an outright majority in the city.

The ANC, which had been level with the DA at 40% support going into this election, was at a dismal 25.7%.

Matiwane acknowledged that the results show a “significant decline” in the ANC’s support in Nelson Mandela Bay compared with 2021.

“This message comes from residents who still live with dry taps, failing infrastructure, unstable council politics and services that fall short of what they deserve,” he said.

“It also comes from our own members and supporters. Many of them stayed at home or lent their vote to other parties because they were disappointed by divisions within our ranks during the candidate selection process and many other matters that might have caused them to not vote. The leadership of the ANC in the region takes collective responsibility for this election outcome.”

Matiwane gave an anecdote about ANC struggle stalwart Raymond Mhlaba who, on 26 June 1952, led volunteers into a “Europeans only” section of the New Brighton railway station, where Mhlaba launched the Defiance Campaign.

“In that campaign, our branches in New Brighton, Korsten and beyond grew by thousands within weeks. That history does not guarantee our future. It reminds us that the ANC grew strong in this region when its branches were close to the people. It will grow strong again only on that basis,” Matiwane said.

Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party, which has just splintered from the ANC, has received 3.04%, or 17 044 votes.

News24 surveyed 5,001 registered voters to reveal who leads, what voters want fixed, and which coalitions South Africans could support.

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