President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe defended the party’s 32-year record during campaign events on Sunday, acknowledging past missteps while insisting that government-led transformation and service delivery outweigh failures as the country approaches the November 4 local government elections.
President Cyril Ramaphosa took his election campaign directly to residents during a door-to-door engagement in Ward 29, Diepkloof, addressing mounting public frustration over deteriorating municipal infrastructure and public finances. The governing party faces persistent criticism regarding waste, patronage, and particularly unreliable access to clean water across affected communities.
Speaking to residents, Ramaphosa acknowledged that the administration’s tenure included shortcomings but maintained that its overall trajectory remains positive. The ANC leader argued that critics ignore the fundamental societal shifts achieved since the end of apartheid.
[IN PICTURES] ANC President Cde Cyril Ramaphosa addresses volunteers at the Chris Hani Regional Volunteers Launch at Qamata Great Place in Cofimvaba, calling on them to intensify their efforts on the ground and work tirelessly to secure an ANC victory in the Eastern Cape in the… pic.twitter.com/Odx1aqrOUW
The transformation that we see in our country, whether people like it or not, whether they hate the ANC or not, has been brought about by the ANC.
Cyril Ramaphosa, President
Ramaphosa Credits ANC for Soweto Development
To illustrate the party’s impact, Ramaphosa pointed specifically to the urban evolution of Soweto. He contrasted its current state with its historical standing as an underdeveloped satellite of Johannesburg.
The people of Soweto, which was like a real backward and backyard city of Johannesburg, is what it is today in terms of development because of the ANC leadership and ANC delivery.
Cyril Ramaphosa, President
The ANC president conceded that the administration made mistakes along the way, noting that governance inevitably involves both missteps and areas of excellence. When evaluating the administration’s overall performance, he suggested that the positive outcomes outweigh the negative entries on the ledger.
“Soweto is affected by issues of development but lack of infrastructure. These are issues that are we addressing daily. “- Cde Cyril Ramaphosa The President of the ANC, Cde Cyril Ramaphosa has gotten a sense of the service delivery issues affecting the community of Ward 31. The… pic.twitter.com/1smnlEvWho
And when you do the balance, when you look at the balance sheet, there’s more positive than negative. So, I always say that the glass is half full; in fact, here, three-quarters full.
Cyril Ramaphosa, President
Earlier in the day, Ramaphosa spoke to business academics and professionals at Johannesburg’s City Hall, where he urged citizens to hold officials accountable by calling out corruption.
Mantashe Defends Social Grants and Education Support in Free State
Meanwhile, ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe pushed back against claims that the governing party has accomplished nothing over three decades. Speaking during a church service at the United Reformed Church in Thabong, Free State, Mantashe pointed to tangible social programmes that benefit millions of households.
Mantashe questioned critics by asking how citizens could dismiss the party’s record while residing in government-provided RDP houses or relying on the Child Support Grant, no-fee schools, and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. He emphasized that educational support is anchored in the principle that every child deserves development regardless of family wealth.
We are driven by one principle: every child has a right to be developed to their full potential, irrespective of the economic status of the home.
Gwede Mantashe, ANC National Chairperson
Mantashe also contrasted modern social assistance with the limited, quarterly payments issued under apartheid, arguing that the public has grown so accustomed to equalized social grants that their foundational role in supporting vulnerable families is frequently overlooked.
Tune in to SAfm 104–107 at 08:10 as ANC Gauteng PTT member Cde Dada Morero joins National Briefing to discuss the ANC’s vision for Johannesburg.#VoteANC2026 #LetsBuildBetterCommunities pic.twitter.com/0kDzMkjGWg