With 19 days before the local government elections on November 4, the African National Congress (ANC) is intensifying its campaign across four provinces through door-to-door voter contact, community meetings and public engagements.
The party’s national leadership will campaign across the Western Cape, Free State, North West and Limpopo from Saturday, October 17, to Sunday, October 18, as it seeks to strengthen its support ahead of the polls.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa, National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe, First Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane, Second Deputy Secretary-General Maropene Ramokgopa and Treasurer-General Gwen Ramokgopa will lead the campaign activities.
Notably, ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile is not listed among the national leaders scheduled to participate in the weekend campaign. This comes after he recently returned to his duties following a period of sick leave. The party’s programme does not indicate whether Mashatile will join any campaign activities at a later stage.
According to the ANC, the programme is aimed at strengthening its relationship with communities, listening to residents’ concerns and accounting for progress made in improving service delivery and local government.
On Saturday, Ramaphosa will lead campaign activities in Cape Town’s Athlone, Rylands, Mfuleni and Woodstock areas. His programme includes a radio interview, door-to-door campaigning, a faith-based engagement, a public meeting and a fundraising gala dinner.
On Sunday, he will continue campaigning in Khayelitsha, where he is scheduled to attend a church service, participate in a media doorstep interview and engage with the transport sector. His programme also includes a radio engagement, door-to-door voter contact and a public meeting.
Mantashe will lead the party’s campaign in the North West’s Bojanala region on Saturday, with a door-to-door campaign in Sondela, followed by an elections prayer session at Seraleng Sports Ground in Rustenburg.
In the Free State, Mokonyane will engage with election structures and residents in QwaQwa. Her programme includes door-to-door campaigning and community meetings in Phuthaditjhaba and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, Ramokgopa will lead the campaign in Limpopo’s Peter Mokaba region. Her activities include a courtesy visit to traditional leadership, door-to-door voter contact and a community meeting at Ramokgopa Tribal Hall.
On Sunday, Treasurer-General Gwen Ramokgopa will campaign in the Masakhane voting district in Ward 8, following a church service and pastoral engagement at New Life Tabernacle Church.
The ANC says its campaign trail is intended to consolidate its electoral structures, mobilise support and promote its programme of building better communities through improved service delivery, accountable leadership and responsive local government.
