President Cyril Ramaphosa has sought to woo businesspeople to cast their ballot for the ANC, saying the risk of it losing its status as the majority party will be a danger zone for the country.
Ramaphosa on Tuesday spoke at an ANC fundraising event with various representatives from local firms, including mining company Moti Group, taxi associations and the SA National Taxi Council, the SA Bus Rapid Transit Association, petroleum company Virtual Petroleum and travel firm Into Africa.
He said the ANC, which faces the threat of a decline in its electoral support, should remain as the majority party to ensure a strong government and to avoid coalitions.
“We’ve seen what coalitions can do. Some people speak lovingly about coalitions and we are not looking forward to the ANC being cut to size and being below 50%,” Ramaphosa said.
“Let me tell you that will be the danger zone for our country. Our country needs a strong government that will be led by one party. The other parties can participate. However, we need one party.”
The ANC is on a drive to arrest a further decline in its electoral support on May 29, which would put it in a position to form coalitions with smaller opposition parties. Various surveys published recently indicate that the ANC could fail to secure an outright majority in 2024 and support for the governing party could dip below 50%.
The ANC has acknowledged it is in danger of losing control of its majority nationally as it struggles to deal with unemployment and deteriorating basic services.
In the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC won 46% of the vote, forcing it to form coalitions with opposition parties. There are fears this trend could continue in the general election.
The ANC was effectively voted out of power in the metros after years of complaints from residents over delivery of basic services, corruption, malfeasance and maladministration.
The coalition governments have, however, been dogged by instability, with frequent changes of mayors and MMCs due to motions of no confidence put forward by rival political parties.
Instability in municipalities has been a feature of local government since the 2016 and 2021 municipal elections resulted in a number of hung councils.
The ANC, EFF and smaller parties have formed a working agreement in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni since 2022 after ousting a DA-coalition government. The agreements allowed the two parties to appoint MMCs in the metros, except in Tshwane, where the partnership is still the minority.
Corruption allegations, factionalism and the emergence of splinter parties such as uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and the EFF have all helped to weaken the ANC.
Ramaphosa, however, remains bullish on the ANC electoral prospects. “I go into this election without fear and without doubt that the ANC will emerge victorious ... The people of SA know what coalitions can do and what damage in our local government so we need clear, clear majority.”
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