ANC faces financial and organizational challenges ahead of local government elections
via The Citizen3 min read
With South Africa's local government elections approaching on November 4, questions have arisen regarding the African National Congress's preparedness. Research fellow and politics lecturer Theo Neethling from the University of the Free State notes that the ANC has started candidate selection and campaign preparations late, amidst declining support, internal tensions, poor service delivery, and growing dissatisfaction. In contrast, the Democratic Alliance has been actively campaigning in metros like Johannesburg, with its mayoral candidate highlighting the shortcomings of the ANC. Neethling suggests that while the ANC has historically been a mass movement with deep organizational roots, it has shown signs of strain, affecting its ability to prepare for elections quickly. The DA's organizational style, characterized by quicker decision-making and coherent messaging, creates an impression of greater efficiency. Another political analyst, Andre Duvenhage from the University of the North West, points to financial difficulties as a central problem for the ANC, citing issues with affording its headquarters, paying staff, and internal strikes. Duvenhage suggests that increased scrutiny on corruption internally is limiting the ANC's financial base, making money less readily available than in the past, and that international developments may also have impacted donations.
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