The ANC’s eThekwini leader, Thanduxolo Sabelo, says the party “did very well” in the metro, even though it is trailing in third place on about 16%.
Sabelo, coordinator of the ANC’s eThekwini regional task team, made the claim on Facebook on Friday, 6 November.
“On the contrary, results and projections suggest that the ANC in the eThekwini region did very well. Remember, we are coming from a catastrophe of 14% in 2024. It is now a matter of fact that we have recovered and we are on a growth path. We were projected to receive 8%, while others were projected to get more than 50%.
“The fact is, they are now a party in decline (umasipala awuthatheki – the municipality can’t be taken). We will clarify further after the official declaration of results on Sunday. The ANC is in better shape than it was in 2024. We did say, ‘Not without a fight’. The ANC lives and the ANC leads,” Sabelo wrote.
With counting still under way in eThekwini, MK led on about 40%, followed by the DA on about 23%. The ANC was third on about 17%, with the IFP on 7%.
The ANC won 42% in eThekwini in the 2021 municipal elections, and has governed the metro since then with the help of smaller parties.
Pre-election polls put the ANC on 10% to 11% in the metro, and MK on as much as 55%.
His followers were not impressed.
“That is exactly the same mentality that has turned you into a praise singer. You should be doing self-introspection,” wrote Thabiso Gumede.
“Next time, the ANC must choose new leadership and avoid people like you, who can’t fix the problem,” wrote Mswawakhe Buthelezi.
Jabu Thusi wrote: “You’re still arrogant and you still haven’t learned anything. That’s why people are running away from you.”
Sboniso Nzuza wrote: “Your arrogance has killed the ANC. No sense of reflection and improvement. Just pride.”
Sabelo, a former ANC Youth League provincial secretary, was appointed in May to help lead the ANC’s campaign in eThekwini, alongside convener Thabani Nyawose.
Last year, companies linked to his two wives were awarded contracts in KwaZulu-Natal’s R2.9 billion National School Nutrition Programme tender.
The DA asked the provincial legislature’s public accounts committee to investigate the awards.
Sabelo defended the awards at the time, saying his wives had been in business for many years.
In September this year, the DA referred the school nutrition tender process to the Special Investigating Unit, citing contracts linked to his wives’ companies among its concerns.
No finding has been made against Sabelo or his wives.