Gauteng ANC prepares for local govt elections, hopes to regain support

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng is preparing for the 2026 local government elections, with hopes of regaining support in the province.

The party is set to hold several election workshops in the coming months to plot its strategy.

The 2026 municipal polls will be highly contested, with several new parties also expected to enter the fray.

The ANC’s provincial task team held a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday to provide an update on preparations.

The results of the 2024 general elections were unfavourable for the ANC in Gauteng, with the party losing its electoral majority. 

An internal review identified several factors behind the poor performance, including underperforming branches and declining public trust.

ANC Gauteng co-convenor Hope Papo said the party wants to avoid a similar outcome in the upcoming municipal elections. 

“A full-time elections machinery is being established, supported by a campaign strategy focusing on areas of electoral decline and historically marginalised communities. We are going to have regional election strategy workshops for the three metros and two districts, where we’ll have intense planning for the elections. We hope these meetings will sit by the end of this month.”

The party has seen a decline in support in Gauteng over the years, losing its majority in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni.

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