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Johannesburg - The ANC would not comment on Friday on a report about its internal election strategy document, in which the party admits it could lose votes in next year's local government election.
"We have not released a statement on something like that. So we are not commenting on that as the ANC," spokesperson Keith Khoza told News24.
The Mail & Guardian reported on Friday that the party's own research said voters "think we are performing badly" in combating crime and corruption and in creating jobs.
“Dysfunctional state services and corrupt leaders and lack of contact lose us hundreds of thousands of votes,” the document’s authors said, according to the M&G.
It said the behaviour of some ANC leaders might affect the party's credibility. The document contained recommendations that offenders and incompetent councillors be removed “now”.
“[We] need strong council leadership, accountability, strategic budget spending… municipal complaint systems and a three-day response to fix things that are simple and… would make a huge change,” the election strategy document states.
‘Factional battles’
The party said one of its assets was its election machinery, “recognised as one of the best in the world”.
“Only if we get the right people in charge… teams must each get to an average of 1 100 voters, identify and register strong and weak ANC supporters, persuade with house meetings, leaders and public meetings.
“[Our] machine cannot be derailed by factional and internal politics. [We] need to build on strengths and minimise weaknesses.”
The ANC announced on Monday that it was replacing Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Benson Fihla, 83, with SA Football Association boss Danny Jordaan.
The DA is hoping to win the Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane and Johannesburg metros from the ruling party in next year's elections.
‘Reading the riot act’
Political analyst Daniel Silke told News24 the document was a "wake-up call" to the party's internal structures.
"It is not so much an admission to voters that they have been deficient. The document was to warn the ANC internally that they have to improve.
"It was designed to have an effect on the ANC administration that they are underperforming. The expectation is that the ANC administration will see it and therefore improve their systems."
However, this was "a little too late" to help the ANC bolster its support before the elections.
"The point you can make is that this is something that they needed to be aware of much earlier to help them attempt to rectify ailing local government," Silke said.
"This should have been started years ago. The ANC will now have to battle through next year's local government elections with a rather poor track record.
"However this document is, in effect, the party reading the riot act to its own administration."
