Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the ANC’s 32-year record in government, arguing that the country’s transformation since apartheid should count for more than the party’s failures as it campaigns ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
Ramaphosa made the remarks during a door-to-door campaign in Diepkloof, Soweto, on Sunday, where residents raised concerns about basic services as the governing party attempts to rebuild voter confidence.
“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,” he said, according to IOL
The president pointed to Soweto’s development as evidence of the party’s contribution since taking power in 1994.
“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,” Ramaphosa said.
However, his defence comes as the ANC faces continued criticism over corruption, municipal mismanagement and unreliable basic services, including water supply.
According to EWN residents raised concerns about water shortages, unemployment and crime during the president’s engagements with households.
[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa defends the ANC’s 32-year record in government, arguing that the party has delivered significant transformation and development, including in Soweto. He acknowledges missteps but maintains that the party’s achievements outweigh its failures. #Newzroom405
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 25, 2026
Ramaphosa acknowledged that the ANC’s record included shortcomings but maintained that its achievements outweighed its mistakes.
“Of course, along the way, there’ll be missteps and there’ll also be areas where there’s been excellence,” he said.
“When you do the balance, when you look at the balance sheet, there’s more positive than negative.”
ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe also defended the party’s record, arguing that its social programmes had improved opportunities for millions of South Africans over the past three decades.
Speaking at a service at the United Reformed Church in Thabong, Free State, on Sunday, Mantashe pointed to government housing, social grants, no-fee schools and funding through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) as examples of the ANC’s achievements.
He questioned how critics could claim the party had done nothing while beneficiaries continued to receive support through these programmes.
Mantashe said the government’s education policies were based on the principle that children should have opportunities regardless of their families’ financial circumstances.
Social assistance system
“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,” he said.
He argued that the programmes had helped children from disadvantaged households access education and opportunities that might otherwise have been beyond their reach.
Mantashe also contrasted the current social assistance system with arrangements under apartheid, saying some grants were previously smaller and paid quarterly.
He maintained that the ANC had introduced a system of equal social grants and suggested that their importance was sometimes overlooked because they had become a familiar part of everyday life for many households.
The two leaders’ remarks come as the ANC campaigns to retain support ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
The party lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections, forcing it to govern through a coalition arrangement with other parties at national level.
Local government remains a key test for the ANC, particularly as municipalities face scrutiny over service delivery, infrastructure maintenance, financial management and accountability.
While Ramaphosa and Mantashe have highlighted the party’s record on transformation and social support, voters continue to judge government on whether essential services reach their communities.
The election campaign will test whether the ANC can persuade residents that its past achievements and promises of improvement are enough to restore confidence in its ability to govern.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
