GATVOL residents say the ANC’s poor performance in the North West local government elections was long overdue.
They accused the ruling party of arrogance, broken promises and poor service delivery.
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Residents said the writing was on the wall, warning that the party would continue losing support if it failed to learn from its mistakes.
The ANC lost its outright majority in several municipalities, including JB Marks, Matlosana, Lekwa-Teemane, Ditsobotla, Rustenburg and Mahikeng.
Eleven of the province’s 18 municipalities have hung councils, with the ANC securing 44,1% of the provincial vote. The DA followed with 14%, the EFF 12%, ActionSA 6% and the SACP 4%.
In JB Marks, the ANC won 22 of 67 council seats, while in Matlosana it secured 32 of 77 seats.
DA mayoral candidate in JB Marks, Theo Venter told Daily Sun his party was not yet engaged in coalition talks and still weighing up its options.
Jubilant Jouberton resident Phillip Oupakie Scheepers blamed the ANC’s arrogance for its poor performance.
“The ANC had to lose, my bra! We saw it coming. The writing was on the wall. The ship was sinking, just like the Titanic. They don’t improve and will never improve. They don’t like accountability. Come 2029, they’ll be in an even worse state,” he said.
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Another resident, former Aurora and Pamodzi mine employee, Amos Moleme said he deliberately stayed away from the polls because politicians failed him.
He said he was still struggling financially and had not received money owed to him following the mine’s collapse.
ANC provincial chairman, Nono Maloyi admitted that poor service delivery contributed to the party’s decline.
Speaking at a media briefing in Mahikeng on Monday, 9 November, he said communities expected more despite the ANC’s achievements over the past 32 years.
Maloyi said councillors were instructed to engage communities daily and provide updates on challenges such as potholes, refuse removal and streetlights.
He also raised concerns about the mushrooming of smaller political parties.
Maloyi said the ANC would know its coalition position on Thursday, 12 November when secretary-general Fikile Mbalula announces the NEC’s decision.
The province continues to battle unemployment, poor service delivery and gender-based violence.
