THE ANC national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, has a clear message for his party as it reflects on its election performance: winning back the cities should not mean turning its back on rural communities.
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Mantashe believes the ANC has been paying too much attention to metropolitan municipalities at the expense of rural areas.
He stressed that rural communities remain vital political strongholds that deserve the exact same level of commitment during election campaigns.
The ANC chairperson admitted that he particularly enjoys campaigning in rural communities, where he finds voters far more straightforward about what they expect from political parties.
“I normally campaign in rural areas. I enjoy it because it gives you results. People are genuine. What you see is what you get,” he said.
However, while Mantashe has a soft spot for rural campaigning, he acknowledged that the party cannot afford to ignore the complex realities of urban voters.
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He explained that winning over residents in metropolitan areas requires much more than just promising or delivering houses, as urban citizens demand consistent basic service delivery.
“You give them a house, they say, but there’s no electricity, won’t vote for you. You give them it, you say no, water is not consistent. They don’t vote for you,” he noted.
Mantashe emphasized that the ANC needs to understand that residents in cities have entirely different expectations.
He urged the party to find more effective ways of responding to their unique concerns. “We must just find a way of working with metropolitans, appreciate their mindset, and try to respond,” he said.
His comments highlight the balancing act facing the ANC as it tries to rebuild support in urban centres without neglecting the rural strongholds where it has traditionally enjoyed strong backing.
For Mantashe, the takeaway is straightforward: the party must master engaging both rural and metropolitan voters if it hopes to rebuild and strengthen its overall support.
