ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is confident the party will emerge victorious in the 2026 local government elections, while promising a stronger focus on service delivery and accountability at municipal level.

Ramaphosa was speaking at the launch of the ANC’s 2026 local government elections manifesto at Riverside Park near Diepsloot in Johannesburg on Sunday where he outlined the party’s plans for municipalities if it returns to power.

The ANC leader said councillors and mayors would be expected to remain closely connected to the communities they serve and to deliver against clearly defined priorities.

ANC promises localised municipal plans

Cyril Ramaphosa said every ANC-led municipality would develop its own localised manifesto and implementation plan based on the specific challenges and strengths of the municipality.

“Every ANC-led council will develop a localised manifesto and an implementation plan addressing the specific strengths and challenges of that municipality,” Ramaphosa said.

He said the work would begin immediately after the elections, with ANC mayors and councillors expected to set measurable targets during their first 100 days in office.

“The first 100 days, ANC mayors and councillors must publish their priorities. They must establish service delivery baselines and show measurable progress on the most urgent problems facing the communities,” he said.

The ANC is ready, willing and determined to serve, having learned from both our achievements and shortcomings. We pledge to implement this manifesto with urgency, integrity and accountability; to listen to communities, appoint capable people, remove those who fail and protect… pic.twitter.com/oweebqMFV4

— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) August 23, 2026

Councillors expected to report back to communities

Cyril Ramaphosa said ANC councillors and mayors would be required to provide regular feedback to residents on progress in implementing the party’s manifesto.

He said the first 100 days would be particularly important because they would establish the pace and priorities for the entire five-year municipal term.

The ANC president also called on councillors to be visible in the communities they represent rather than becoming disconnected from residents once elected.

Focus on service delivery and local economies

According to Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC deployees must prioritise getting local economies functioning effectively, improving basic service delivery and strengthening relationships with traditional leaders.

The party’s manifesto comes as the ANC faces a challenging electoral environment, with voters in several municipalities expressing frustration over service delivery, infrastructure failures, municipal finances and governance.

Ramaphosa’s pledge to establish service delivery baselines and measurable targets appears aimed at addressing concerns about municipal performance and rebuilding public confidence.

The ANC president nevertheless remains confident that the party can regain support at local level and win the 2026 local government elections.

The elections will take place on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

The day has been declared a public holiday.