Key Takeaways
- Deputy President Paul Mashatile resumed door‑to‑door campaigning in Vosloorus on 14 October after medical leave, aiming to boost volunteer efforts in the final 21 days before the 4 November local elections.
- Residents raised urgent concerns over soaring electricity and water bills, irregular refuse collection, and the inadequacy of prepaid power for pension‑dependent households.
- Many elderly voters described supporting unemployed relatives and struggling grandchildren, highlighting the pressure on pension and child‑support grants.
- Criticism focused on perceived corruption, the ineffectiveness of the Government of National Unity (GNU), and a demand that the ANC “have its house in order” before regaining trust.
- Despite frustrations, Mashatile reported a warm reception and urged loyal ANC supporters to turn out, while acknowledging the party’s 38.19 % vote share in Ekurhuleni in 2021 and the need for concrete service improvements to convert loyalty into electoral success.
Introduction and Campaign Context
Deputy President Paul Mashatile returned to the ANC’s election campaign trail on Wednesday, 14 October, visiting Vosloorus in Ekurhuleni ahead of the 4 November local government elections. After a period of medical leave following minor surgery in mid‑June 2026, his re‑emergence signalled the party’s effort to rekindle direct contact with voters. During a door‑to‑door walk in Ward 45, Mashatile greeted residents, listened to their grievances, and handed out ANC‑branded regalia. He framed the visit as a morale‑boosting exercise for volunteers, urging them to keep canvassing households in the final three weeks before polling day. The outreach aimed to translate lingering loyalty into active voter turnout while showcasing the ANC’s willingness to hear community concerns.
Door-to-Door Engagement and Volunteer Mobilization
Mashatile emphasized that the campaign’s core purpose was to keep ANC supporters engaged and to encourage volunteers to persist in household visits until election day. He noted that with only 21 days remaining, national leaders wanted to sustain momentum and ensure that every identified household received attention. Volunteers had already flagged homes where residents needed assistance—such as elderly citizens eligible for indigent support or those grappling with disputed electricity and water bills. Mashatile promised that after the national delegation departed, local ward councillors would continue interfacing with the community, maintaining pressure on municipal services and reinforcing the party’s presence on the ground.
Electricity and Water Billing Woes
At the home of 81‑year‑old Simon Mtshweni, the conversation centred on municipal bills and a lingering water problem that had required repeated complaints to resolve. Mtshweni explained that a pipe connected to his neighbour’s property had skewed his meter, producing an unusually high water bill that remained unaddressed until a pipe burst forced municipal crews to intervene after numerous complaints. He also voiced concern over outstanding municipal rates that strained his fixed income. Mashatile informed him that his household could qualify for the municipality’s indigent programme, which offers relief to qualifying families struggling to pay for basic services, and suggested he apply for assistance.
Prepaid Electricity Affordability
Pensioner Nozipho Nkambule raised a stark complaint about the cost of electricity, saying that a R200 prepaid purchase lasted barely one week. “I simply cannot afford these rates,” she told Mashatile, highlighting how rising tariffs erode the purchasing power of fixed pensions. Her testimony underscored a broader pattern: many elderly residents on social grants find prepaid electricity insufficient to meet daily needs, forcing them to choose between essential services and other household expenses. Mashatile acknowledged the issue, noting that the ANC recognizes the pressure on households and intends to explore tariff adjustments and expanded indigent relief to alleviate the burden on vulnerable consumers.
Refuse Collection and Service Inconsistency
Sinah Molatudi voiced frustration over irregular refuse collection, stating that workers “do it when they want,” which she described as truly frustrating. She also complained about intermittent water supply and sanitation problems, linking these service gaps to a broader sense of municipal neglect. Molatudi’s remarks captured the disconnect between longstanding ANC loyalty and current dissatisfaction; despite her family’s historic support for the party, she felt let down by its governance. She appealed directly to the ANC to “do things the right way” so that residents could continue voting for it, insisting that meaningful reform—not merely campaigning—was required to restore trust.
Pension Burden and Unemployment
The challenges extended beyond utilities. At the residence of 79‑year‑old Nocwaka Benya, the pensioner revealed she was supporting her unemployed youngest son, who had lost his job through retrenchment, as well as his two children. Benya relied on her pension and child‑support grants to keep the household afloat while her son struggled to find work. In another home, a grandmother caring for a grandson with a brain tumour described difficulties securing a school capable of accommodating his visual impairments. These stories illustrated how economic strain, joblessness, and inadequate social services intersect, placing immense pressure on elderly caregivers who depend on limited state assistance.
Criticism of Corruption, GNU, and ANC Performance
Speaking to Daily Maverick, Sinah Molatudi deepened her critique, alleging that the ANC is “constantly caught in corruption issues and allegations” while youth unemployment remains rampant. She argued that the Government of National Unity (GNU) was not delivering benefits to ordinary residents, declaring, “This GNU is not working for us. We don’t need it.” Molatudi insisted that the ANC must “sort themselves out, start acting right, fix these problems, and have their house in order” before she would consider renewing her vote. She warned that renewed campaigning alone would not convince voters of genuine change; tangible improvements in governance and service delivery were essential.
ANC’s Optimism and Loyalty
Despite the litany of complaints, Mashatile maintained that the ANC was receiving a warm welcome across Vosloorus. He asserted that people remained “very positive in voting for the ANC” and that the party’s outreach aimed to remind loyal supporters to turn out on election day. Mashatile stressed transparency: “We don’t hide the truth,” he said, promising to acknowledge challenges while pledging to fix them. He noted that many residents had told him they had voted for the ANC throughout their lives and intended to continue doing so, provided the party demonstrated concrete progress on the issues raised during the walk‑about.
Electoral Landscape and Future Outlook
The ANC faces a tough test in Ekurhuleni, where it secured only 38.19 % of the vote in the 2021 local elections, trailing the Democratic Alliance (28.72 %) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (13.57 %). No party won an outright majority, leaving the metro prone to coalition negotiations and shifting control. Mashatile highlighted the ANC’s three‑decade record of expanding housing, social grants, and school access, while acknowledging that not every citizen has benefited. He attributed some economic strain to global factors such as international conflict‑driven price spikes, but reiterated the party’s commitment to broadening service reach. With the campaign entering its final stretch, the ANC must convert lingering loyalty into confident votes by proving it can “do things the right way.”