Lindsay Dentlinger30 May 2024 | 9:30

Elections 2024: Western Cape ANC believes the tide is turning

The party’s spokesperson Khalid Sayed said the party is relying on its strongholds in the Cape Town metro to come through for it, and even the return of many Muslim voters it had previously lost to the Democratic Alliance.

Elections 2024: Western Cape ANC believes the tide is turning

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape says it believes it has put in the hard yards to bolster its position in the only province it doesn’t govern. 
 
It’s scrapping with the Patriotic Alliance (PA) for votes in the province’s rural areas.
 
But the party’s spokesperson Khalid Sayed said the party is relying on its strongholds in the Cape Town metro to come through for it, and even the return of many Muslim voters it had previously lost to the Democratic Alliance.
 
In 2019, the African National Congress (ANC) fell short of meeting its 30% target for the province. 
 
But Sayed thinks the tide is turning. 
 
“Also, the addition of new political players into the Western Cape legislature landscape needs to be welcomed. Maybe they’ll be bringing other issues which other opposition parties and even the governing party has not been able to bring to the fore.”
 
He’s also not denying the party’s pro-Palestinian stance could play in its favour.
 
“So, whilst our intention in taking up the Palestinian issue was never about votes, I do think that would have assisted us most certainly.”
 
Sayed said the party’s own polling shows good turnout in its base areas such as Khayelitsha which could see the party improve the misfortunes it has had in the last provincial polls.