The ANC just doesn’t have the same pull in the Western Cape – Photo: Flickr
The ANC just doesn’t have the same pull in the Western Cape – Photo: Flickr
It’s tough going for the ANC in the Western Cape. This is the only province they don’t control in South Africa. And now, it seems that the taps have completely run dry for the local branch – with donors and businesses alike pulling the plug.
ANC face ‘total wipe-out’ in Western Cape
There are now concerns that the ANC won’t be able to hold their upcoming conference in the Western Cape, due to budgetary restraints around hosting such a large event. A postponement looms large, and 13 years of regional DA reign have taken their toll.
Support for the ANC is dwindling across the country. The 2021 Local Elections saw the ruling party barely scrape 45% of public support. A set of recent opinion polls reveal that this number is likely to decline even further by 2024, ushering an era of coalition governance.
ANC Western Cape ‘in dire straits’
However, the Western Cape has been something of an electoral graveyard for the 110-year-old organisation since the turn of the century. Lerumo Kalako is the co-ordinator of the Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) – and he certainly didn’t sugarcoat his take on the matter.
“We struggle with money for our programmes because donors are no longer keen. Businesses do not want us, they choose to not contribute anything, that puts a constraint on the party’s finances. There is no organisation that doesn’t run on resources.” | Lerumo Kalako
‘Donors have stopped giving them money’
Needless to say, the news has been met with glee on the opposition benches. Dean Macpherson, the Shadow Minister for Trade, stuck the boot in earlier on Sunday. Taking aim at the ANC Western Cape leader, he encouraged Cameron Dugmore to ‘obliterate’ more provinces in the future.
Ouch. That’s gotta hurt…
“It looks like Cameron Dugmore – the ANC’s leader in the Western Cape – has obliterated this branch of the party. We need more Cameron Dugmores in our other provinces.” | Dean Macpherson
