ANC STATEMENT ON THE OUTCOMES OF ELECTIONS OF MAYORS AND SPEAKERS

The ANC acknowledges and welcomes the establishment of municipal councils based on the outcome of the Local Government Elections on 1  November  2021.

The will of the people has been expressed clearly. The people have demanded that their representatives must work together to build better communities. This is a sign of a healthy and deepening democracy.

With great humility we thank the people for affirming the mandate of the ANC to form governments in the overwhelming majority of local and district municipalities throughout the country. including the Buffalo City and Mangaung metros.

In Nelson Mandela Bay. eThekwini and other municipalities in many parts of the country. the ANC has been able to form coalition governments based on agreements that put the people's interests first.

We acknowledge and welcome the role played by a number of parties who have agreed to co-operate with the ANC in pursuit of the objective of building better communities and improving the lives of the people of these municipalities. In totality the ANC received clear mandate in the majority of local areas. We do acknowledge. however. that we have not done well in others. Of the total votes cast throughout the country. the ANC received 45.6°0 of the popular vote (10.699.300 votes). and a majority in 167 councils.

This amounts to a total of 4 548 seats spread across all municipalities It is quite clear that we have a huge task to serve our people in various constituencies.

The ANC also won 73% of ward seats, a vindication that our system of consulting communities in our ward candidate selections largely found resonance with communities.

ANC Council Seats by Province (LGE2021)

During our election campaign, the ANC heard the concerns of the people. We will ensure that our programs respond to these needs and concerns. We value the input and counsel from our people.

We will ensure that our public representatives honour the commitments made in our Local Government Election Manifesto. Together we will build better communities.

We will ensure accountability and responsiveness from our representatives through contracts of deployment and performance agreements.

We will work to ensure transparency and people-centred governance. We are committed to root out corruption and maladministration. We reaffirm our commitment to improving service delivery through the District Development Model.

Across the country, where there has not been an outright winner, political parties and independent candidates have ­as is their right — striven to form coalitions or confidence-and-supply agreements (support for a government on a case-by-case basis).

While we have, as the ANC, forged agreements based on substantive principles, we do not wish to judge the motivations that have inspired others to form such partnerships. What we hope will emerge from these developments is the establishment of functional local governments that provide services to the people. As President Ramaphosa said earlier this month: "Let it be clear. We are not going to enter into coalitions at all cost. The political parties going around saying they will not work with us to capture media space, we are not on our knees. If we must be in opposition, we will be in opposition."

Even from opposition benches, the ANC will continue to work with the people to build better communities by playing an active role in representing residents and exercising vigorous and constructive oversight in these municipalities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to work with the people to transform our country into a united, non-racial, non-sexist,                      democratic and prosperous nation.

As we enter this era of new local government administrations, we are proud of the ongoing and consistent deepening and evolution of our multi-party democracy.

Consistent with the premise that a national democratic society requires an active citizenry, the ANC calls on all South Africans to participate actively in local government through ward committees, integrated development plan consultative processes and other structures.

We also want to take this opportunity to congratulate all parties who secured representation in the municipalities, and hope that they will contribute to the development of our communities and the country as a whole.

To this end, as the ANC, we engaged a number of political parties to facilitate coalitions or cooperation in hung municipalities.

Amongst these the National Negotiating Team met and discussed with the IFP leadership, Patriotic Alliance, Economic Freedom Front, AIC, ATM, Al Ja mah and UDM. These discussions were approached from a set of principles of; good governance, pro-poor agenda and anti-corruption principle.

A good understanding emerged in our discussion except in the instance of EFF that chose to call off the negotiations without solid reasons. Our provinces were also tasked to engage independents and local parties to forge coalitions or cooperation agreements.

Statement issued by the ANC, 25 November 2021