The African National Congress is humbled by the electoral victory in the by-elections in Mamusa in the North-West on Wednesday, 15 January 2019. In the 2019 national elections campaign we secured a mandate based on our message which resonated with the electorate. This message continues to inform our approach to governance and service delivery. Having learnt from both the good and bad of the past twenty-five years, informed by our history of commitment to the people’s cause, we are resolved to make this an era of renewal and hope. We are on a difficult path of self-correction and our commitment to put our people first, before individual self-serving interests has never been greater.
The ANC won eight wards while the Freedom Front Plus won one.
By-elections were conducted in all nine wards and PR seats. The ANC retained all the wards it won in the 2016 local government elections, while the Freedom Front Plus won one previously held by the DA. In Ward 1, we retained the ward with 48.58%, down from 61.81% in 2016; We retained Ward 2 with 74.03%, an increase from 53.43% in 2016; We retained Ward 3 with 58.86%, an increase from 53.12% in 2016; We retained Ward 4 with 66.12%, a decline from 79.57% in 2016; We retained Ward 6 with 61.63%, a decline from 68.07% in 2016; We retained Ward 7 with 57.05%, an increase from 52.08% in 2016; We retained Ward 8 with 60.82%, a decline from 75.56% in 2016.
The results for the Propotional Representation (PR) vote are yet to be declared by the IEC, but all indications are that the ANC has done well in the PR vote.
While the ANC was a governing party in Mamusa, we took a bold and difficult decision to dissolve the Council. The infighting among our own councillors effectively undermined service delivery and detracted the municipality from focusing on critical issues such as growing the municipality revenue base and improving the lives of the people. These challenges and subjective weaknesses aided the emergence of opposition in Ward 9 won by the FF+.
In line with our commitment to the electorate, where we declared that we have learned the harsh impact on society and the economy, arising from the loss of integrity in institutions of state. We have learnt hard lessons about the vigilance needed to stop creeping lawlessness, greed and selfishness taking root. The decision to dissolve the Mamusa Council and seek a fresh mandate from the electorate is a practical demonstration of our renewed vigilance to deal decisively with populist tendencies that undermine service delivery. We took this hard decision prepared to risk losing power in order to serve the people better and do what is right.
Despite the electoral victory and being returned to power in the Municipality, we are not in celebratory mode. We understand the message of the voters to place service delivery above all else. We have no doubt that the incoming Council will rise to the occasion and redouble its efforts in improving the lives of our people. In keeping with the mandate we have been given by the electorate, we will govern decisively with a singular focus on service delivery.
These results confirm that the overwhelming majority of our people continue to trust the ANC as the only vehicle that can change their lives for the better. These by-elections results further communicate an unequivocal message that the ANC remains the only hope for the people of South Africa.
We are humbled by the unwavering confidence that the people of Mamusa and across the country continue to have in the ANC. Voters continue to see the ANC as the only organization with the capacity and vision to deliver a better life for all. As the ANC, we do not take this confidence for granted. We are determined to redouble our efforts in our quest to make local government an effective instrument for service delivery. As the only custodian of the aspirations of our people, we will never rest nor tire until all our people have access to all basic services.
We will immediately begin mop up engagements with ANC structures in the municipality and our incoming councillors to ensure that we retain focus on critical issues of water, sanitation, potholes and general service delivery. We will also engage with various stakeholders on service delivery issues, while ensuring that our councillors deliver on what we committed to do.
The ANC would like to thank its structures, members, supporters, volunteers and everyone who contributed to these decisive victories. These outcomes are a positive building block towards overwhelming victory in the upcoming local government elections in 2021.
We call on all councillors of the ANC to put the plight of their communities first and to serve with humility and selflessness. We wish to remind them that they are at the coal-face of service delivery and must, at all material times, rise to the occasion.
Issued by: Fikile Mbalula
Head of Elections
More Information: Pule Mabe
Spokesperson
082 569 7335
