Ramaphosa says ANC sees renewal momentum in KwaZulu-Natal as local elections near

The ANC president made the claim during a campaign visit to Umlazi and Molweni, where residents also raised unresolved damage from the 2022 floods.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says the party’s renewal campaign is gaining momentum in KwaZulu-Natal as it seeks to rebuild support ahead of South Africa’s local government elections on 4 November 2026.

Ramaphosa made the assessment during campaign engagements in Umlazi, south of Durban, and surrounding communities on 26 September. SABC News reported that the ANC leader said the party still had an active base in the province and that previously unexpressed support could translate into votes. (sabcnews.com)

A campaign claim, not an electoral result

Ramaphosa described the reception from communities as evidence that ANC support remained stronger than some observers might assume. He said the response was positive and that support for the party was visible on the ground.

That assessment remains an attributed political claim. The available evidence does not establish how much support the ANC currently has in KwaZulu-Natal, nor whether the campaign activity will produce a measurable improvement in the party’s electoral performance. The province was among those where the ANC suffered a significant decline in support in the 2024 elections, according to the SABC report. (sabcnews.com)

Flood recovery remains an issue for residents

The campaign visit also brought attention to continuing problems in Molweni, where some residents remain in homes damaged by the 2022 floods. Residents told the ANC leader that houses and roads in parts of Lower Molweni had not been fully repaired.

SABC News reported that 28 people were killed and seven remained unaccounted for in the area. The available report does not provide additional official documentation for those figures, the precise status of each affected household or a detailed reconstruction timetable. (sabcnews.com)

Ramaphosa acknowledged delays in rebuilding homes and relocating families, while saying that the commitments to re-accommodate affected residents and construct houses would be fulfilled. Those remarks are promises by the ANC president; the report does not independently establish when all outstanding work will be completed. (sabcnews.com)

What to watch next

The immediate test for the ANC will be whether its campaign message can convert reported community engagement into support at the ballot box. The party’s performance in KwaZulu-Natal will also show whether its renewal programme is changing voter sentiment after the 2024 setback.

For communities in Lower Molweni, the more immediate measure will be progress on damaged homes, roads and relocations. The outstanding details include the number of households still waiting for assistance, the responsible implementing authorities and the deadlines for completing reconstruction.

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