ANC Urges Voters to Turn Out on 4 November
Cyril Ramaphosa addressed supporters at a Siyanqoba rally in KuGompo City ahead of the national election.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections
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ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa urged supporters to vote on 4 November during a rally at the Sisa Dukashe stadium in KuGompo City on Sunday. Eastern Cape chairperson Oscar Mabuyane pledged that the electoral collapse seen in 2024 would not recur in the province.
Why it matters
The ANC lost its national majority in the May 2024 election, and the party is working to rebuild support ahead of the coming vote. Ramaphosa attributed the 2024 loss in part to voter apathy, as ANC supporters believed the party had already won and stayed home.
In the 2021 local elections the ANC won 59.43% of the combined vote in Buffalo City Metro, a result the party's Eastern Cape leadership is seeking to repeat. The ANC retained 14 of 80 provincial seats in KwaZulu-Natal in 2024, down sharply from its earlier dominance there.
The players
Cyril Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa is the President of South Africa and leader of the African National Congress, who has led the country since 2018.
Oscar Mabuyane
Oscar Mabuyane is the chairperson of the ANC's Eastern Cape provincial structure and a senior figure in the province's politics.
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing party, which led the fight against apartheid and has dominated national politics since 1994.
The details
Ramaphosa walked around the Sisa Dukashe stadium after stepping out of a convoy of about a dozen cars to greet supporters, and several members ran onto the pitch to greet him. He said ANC councils had redirected electricity and water revenue into municipal infrastructure maintenance and cited the end of loadshedding after 500 days as an achievement of the ANC government.
Timeline
May 2024: The ANC lost its national majority in the national election.
2021: The ANC won 59.43% of the combined vote in Buffalo City Metro in local elections.
Sunday (31 October 2026): The Siyanqoba rally was held at the Sisa Dukashe stadium.
4 November 2026: Election day, when supporters were urged to vote.
Season Trajectory
The ANC's campaign comes after its loss of the national majority in May 2024, and the party is now seeking to halt declines in its provincial strongholds. Its performance in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape will shape whether the 2024 erosion continues or stabilises.
Eligible South African voters should confirm their registration and voting station before 4 November, as the outcome will determine which parties hold seats in provincial and local councils. Residents in areas facing water disruptions, such as parts of Gauteng, may see how local councils respond to infrastructure needs in the months after the vote.
The takeaway
The 2024 results showed that turnout and voter confidence can shift quickly, so the ANC's push to mobilise supporters before 4 November reflects that lesson. Readers should watch provincial results in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape as the clearest indicators of whether the party's decline has levelled off.
What happens next
Voters will go to the polls on 4 November 2026, when the ANC's support in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape will be tested.
Further reading
For more on the candidates and parties contesting the vote, see Elections in South African politics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News24.
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