ANC will walk it, shows survey
2006-02-26 22:50
Johannesburg - The African national Congress wound up its campaign on Sunday confident of another overwhelming victory in local elections despite voter anger about poor services.
"I don't think there is any danger or threat to the popularity of the ANC," said President Thabo Mbeki said in an interview published in the Sunday Independent newspaper.
The country has been rocked by riots in poor townships by residents angry at the sloppy provision of services like sanitation and road maintenance - key responsibilities of local government.
Independent pollster Markinor said its latest survey showed the ANC was likely to take 65% to 70% of the vote, gaining on the 59% it garnered in the last local poll in 2000.
But, this would be no better than the 70% it got in the 2004 national vote, suggesting that the party may have hit a political ceiling.
Close race in Cape Town
The influential Mail & Guardian weekly said on Friday that township unrest showed that cracks had finally begun to appear in the "ANC monolith" which has ruled since apartheid ended in 1994.
Mari Harris, director and political analyst at Markinor, said: "The ANC probably will win everywhere with a very close race in Cape Town."
She said the poll, released at the weekend, was based on
surveys conducted with 3 500 voters two weeks ago.
"People think the ANC is the only party that can make a difference, so people will vote for them even though they are angry with them," said Harris.
About 10 000 ANC supporters swarmed into the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Sunday for a final rally.
ANC 'needs to do more'
"Forward with ANC, forward," the crowd chanted under grey skies that threatened rain.
Defence Minister and ANC chairperson Mosioua Lekota admitted the party needed to do more to retain support.
"We've got to up thye service delivery and not take it for granted that people will continue to vote for us.
"We have to work harder than before, we've got to deliver jobs, reduce poverty, improve lives," he told the crowd.