By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the people are increasingly expressing their confidence in the party, under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mbalula addressed the media on Thursday ahead of their “Siyanqoba Rally” this weekend, declaring it all systems go.
He said they were ready to paint Soweto black, green and gold.
The “decisive victory” election rally is expected to take place at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
Addressing the media, Mbalula said he did not doubt that the party’s rally would be a success and people would vote for his party, following their intensified campaign trails.
“Over the course of the last three months, we have seen a clear shift in the mood of the country,” he said.
Mbalula said the entire ANC leadership remained on the campaign trail in an effort to secure votes.
“Our campaign has reached every community, from large cities to small towns, from villages to townships and from farms to suburbs.”
“While the support for the ANC has been steadily increasing, while we are confident of a decisive mandate, we know that this election is not won until the voting stations close on Wednesday, 29 May.
“People are increasingly expressing their confidence in the ANC, under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, to build the economy and create jobs, to improve service delivery, to crack down on corruption and to unite the people of South Africa.
While the party support has increased, Mbalula confidently said they were in for a decisive victory.
“The tens of thousands of people who will fill up the FNB Stadium on Saturday for the Siyanqoba rally will be sending a message of confidence and hope,” he said.
“We are putting all our energy, resources, and effort into a final push to get out every vote on election day,” added Mbalula.
Analysts have been speculating for months that the ANC will fall short of 50% of the vote for the first time since coming to power 30 years ago under Nelson Mandela at the end of apartheid.
Social Research Foundation (SRF), put support for the ANC at 44.8% on Friday, the latest day for which data is available, up from 37.7% exactly one month earlier under a scenario modelled for the 66% turnout seen at the national elections in 2019.
Opinion polls released in April by Ipsos and March by The Brenthurst Foundation and the SABI Strategy Group found backing for the ANC was several percentage points lower, at 40.2% and 39% respectively.
If the ANC is forced to turn to larger opposition parties such as the DA or EFF, which won 20.8% and 10.8% in the 2019 elections, they are likely to have to cede more ground in negotiations to form a coalition government.
Political analysts have seen the ANC’s support increase in the weeks leading up to previous votes, attributing the trend to its far-reaching grassroots campaign in which thousands of volunteers go door-to-door and its leaders tour the country touting the party’s record.