GQEBERHA, EASTERN CAPE — African National Congress (ANC) Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has intensified the party’s campaign trail in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, rallying supporters and outlining the ANC’s governance priorities ahead of the November 2026 local government elections. The strategic push comes as the party seeks to secure an outright majority to govern the Eastern Cape municipality independently, moving away from its current coalition arrangement.
Mantashe’s door-to-door grassroots campaign took him to Peace Village in Gqeberha, where he engaged directly with residents. Locals welcomed the rare opportunity to voice long-standing grievances face-to-face rather than through local councilors. Among the pressing concerns raised were unresolved housing issues dating back to 2013. One resident detailed losing an RDP housing opportunity due to alleged corruption and neighbor disputes, which has left them living in a shack with their 70-year-old parents despite years of lobbying municipal offices. Mantashe acknowledged these service delivery failures, emphasizing that an outright ANC mandate would prioritize resolving such systemic housing backlogs.
The campaign trail also extended to the Sarah Baartman district, including Alexandria, where communities have historically faced prominent water infrastructure and housing challenges. Back in Gqeberha, Mantashe broadened his outreach by meeting with the local taxi industry to address sector-specific challenges, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to voter engagement across different community pillars.
This grassroots mobilization unfolds against the backdrop of internal party tensions. National Executive Committee (NEC) member Andile Lungisa recently approached the courts to challenge his removal from the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro candidate list. Mantashe firmly condemned this legal action, stating that Lungisa is “ahead of himself.” He emphasized that as a long-standing party member, Lungisa must resolve internal disputes through the ANC’s established structures rather than litigating them publicly, asserting that it remains an “ANC matter, not a court matter.”
Mantashe’s outreach in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is scheduled to continue, with planned engagements at community congregations in local townships, including areas like KwaZakhele, which have historically faced socio-economic and security challenges. The ANC remains focused on convincing voters that a renewed, independent mandate will translate into decisive, accountable action on housing, municipal governance, and service delivery.