ANC wants to breach 80% mark in Eastern Cape

The African National Congress (ANC) in Eastern Cape has set its sights high and hopes to breach the 80% mark for the first time at next week’s polls.

But many have questioned its chances, since the last time the party almost pulled off such a feat was during Thabo Mbeki’s presidency 20 years ago.

The party said it is also banking on its traditional Eastern Cape stronghold to get it an outright majority in the national polls.

With a 61% voter turnout in 2019, the ANC received 69% of the vote in the largely rural province.

The last time the ANC in Eastern Cape came anywhere near 80% was during Mbeki’s presidency in 2004 when the party garnered 79% of the provincial vote.

But provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said 2024 might be different as the party tries to get back to its 2004 support levels.

“In the Eastern Cape, we are certain that we are going to win with a margin of around 82-85% and we are working flat out so that people do not take it for granted that the ANC is going to win. We are campaigning like it’s nobody’s business,” Ngcukayitobi told Eyewitness News.

But the so-called “home of legends” – the province of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo – is not where it ends for the Eastern Cape ANC.

The party has also set its sights on boosting the party’s support in the neighbouring Western Cape.

While the ANC got 69% of the vote in 2019 in Eastern Cape, the party managed only 28% in the Democratic Alliance (DA)-run Western Cape.

But the party hopes the Eastern Cape’s growth projections rub off on Western Cape, where Ngcukayitobi and other party leaders like provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane have been campaigning.

This weekend also saw Ngcukayitobi in the southern Cape campaign trail to address taxi and traditional leaders.

Party Chairperson Gwede Mantashe also joined the fray when he headed to George on Sunday, where 33 people died in the building collapse disaster.

Ngcukayitobi said this is part of a strategy to get the party’s Western Cape based supporters who hail from Eastern Cape to get out and vote.

“Our sense is that we’re going to win in the Western Cape. We are increasing our percentage outlook in the Western Cape that’s the first fundamental issue,” said Ngcukayitobi.

ANC Western Cape spokesperson Muhammad Khalid Sayed said the Eastern Cape visit has had a positive impact.

He also dismissed reports on poor door-to-door canvassing in the province, which is contained in an internal report.

“The areas where we’ve had Eastern Cape leadership, particularly the base areas, [canvassing] has actually increased tremendously. So, it has had a positive and practical impact,” said Sayed.

With most election polls pointing towards the DA losing its majority in the province, the ANC believes this will allow the party to govern through a coalition led by the ANC with a minimal number of coalition partners.

-EWN

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