As South Africa inches closer to the 2026 local government elections, the African National Congress (ANC) is once again appealing to the public’s confidence, promising that its much-touted “renewal and service delivery” drive is taking root. The ruling party, in power since 1994, released a statement on Thursday celebrating a handful of by-election wins, while thanking citizens for their “enduring confidence.”
But while the party hails these victories as proof of renewed trust, analysts and ordinary South Africans remain divided, questioning whether these wins are signs of genuine recovery or merely temporary relief for a party that has been steadily losing support over the past decade.
In its statement, the ANC said the outcomes of recent by-elections in Musina (Limpopo), Dr AB Xuma (Eastern Cape) and Langeberg (Western Cape) reflected “the growing strength of our renewal and service delivery programme.” The party highlighted the election of new councillors, Raymond Mashudu Nyathi, Vuyiswa Poswa, and Daniel Baadjies, as evidence that “renewal is not a slogan but a living reality.”
“The people continue to trust the ANC to lead them,” the party’s national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, said. “We express our deepest gratitude to every voter, activist and volunteer who made these victories possible. These outcomes reaffirm the ANC bond with the people and strengthen our resolve to serve with integrity.”
The statement also cited the implementation of the Local Government Action Plan, which the party claims has “sharpened its focus on service delivery performance, discipline and accountability among councillors.” According to the ANC, this plan ensures that municipalities deliver services “with urgency, efficiency and consistency.”
However, one political analyst said the ruling party’s optimism should be taken with caution. “These isolated wins do not necessarily represent a national turnaround,” the analyst said. “The ANC has been losing votes steadily since 2009, particularly in urban areas, and it’s struggling to shake off the perception that it has failed to deliver on basic services such as electricity, water, and housing.”
Indeed, the 2021 local government elections marked a historic low for the ANC, which for the first time fell below 50% nationally. The party has since lost control of several key municipalities, including Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay, as voter frustration over corruption, service delivery failures and internal factional battles continues to mount.
“The ANC’s messaging now appears to be part of a broader campaign to rebuild trust ahead of the elections,” the analyst added. “But whether voters believe in this ‘renewal’ narrative will depend on tangible improvements in their daily lives, not just press statements.”
Communities across the country have continued to voice anger over failing infrastructure, potholes, water shortages and ongoing load shedding. Even in some of the areas the ANC recently celebrated winning, residents have been protesting over the lack of jobs and basic services.
Despite this, the ANC insists that it is “regaining stability, unity and trust” through its renewal efforts. The party argues that its councillors are now “reconnecting with the people” and demonstrating “ethical leadership.”
But for many, the question remains whether this renewed energy is coming too late. “South Africans have grown tired of promises,” said the analyst. “The ANC still commands a strong base, especially in rural areas, but if it fails to show visible results soon, those by-election gains could vanish quickly.”
As the election season approaches, the ruling party faces one of its toughest tests yet, convincing voters that nearly three decades of governance have taught it enough lessons to finally deliver on its commitments. For now, the ANC’s message of gratitude and renewal may resonate with some, but for many South Africans, the real proof will lie not in words, but in working taps, working lights and jobs that last.
