Fikile Mbalula: ANC electoral decline is due to voter abstention, not defection

The African National Congress (ANC) believes its path to victory in the upcoming local government elections is through rebuilding its social compact with communities.

On Sunday, the party is giving an action plan and political guidance to all its public representatives deployed in the local government sector.

The party said it will track the progress of the implementation of the plan on a 3-month basis until the elections.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Turffontein racecourse in Johannesburg, Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, said the party’s electoral decline is largely to its voters staying away from the polls, rather than voting for other parties.

“The component part of this roll call is about connection with the masses. Building a social compact with the people, not what others are doing. If we do well, we live up to the expectation of connecting with the communities and our masses, the people will honour and respect the ANC that they love. As you would have seen in all the elections, they did not cross over to other parties; they just stayed away from voting for the ANC.”