Cyril Ramaphosa Says No Party Has Done More for South Africans Than the ANC

Cyril Ramaphosa has made a forceful case for the ANC ahead of South Africa’s local government elections, telling supporters that no other party has done more for the country’s people. Speaking at the party’s Siyanqoba rally at Sisa Dukashe Stadium, the ANC president said voters should judge the election by whether local authorities can meet everyday needs, rather than by political slogans. “There is no other political party,” Ramaphosa said, arguing that the ANC’s record should be considered alongside areas where it had fallen short. He urged voters to reflect on what the party had delivered, while acknowledging that people were concerned about the cost of living and frustrated by poor municipal services. Ramaphosa described the ballot as a decision about practical questions: whether taps work, streetlights come on and rubbish is collected. He said voters would choose who to trust with running their cities, towns and villages, and with improving residents’ lives. The ANC leader said the party had listened to communities during its campaign, including those who value its achievements and those worried about service delivery. He also maintained that the ANC was working to support economic growth and create jobs. Among the government’s claimed achievements, Ramaphosa pointed to the end of load shedding, crediting cooperation with Eskom and social partners. He also highlighted investment in dams, pipelines and water-treatment facilities, as well as efforts to strengthen municipalities’ ability to provide clean water. Looking ahead, he pledged one million work, training and enterprise opportunities over the next term, including apprenticeships. His message to rally attendees was that the election would determine whether the ANC could continue its work on services, livelihoods and employment—and whether voters believed its record justified another term.