The Free State ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) has outlined a strategic pivot towards courting middle-class voters as a key component of its electoral strategy.
This move, contained in an official party report, is aimed at restoring and maintaining the party’s dominance in the province, following a notable decline in voter support over recent years.
The report candidly acknowledges the party’s challenges, particularly in areas traditionally dominated by opposition parties like the DA and FF Plus.
“Our inability to have a presence in suburbs where DA and FF Plus exist, even though a substantial number of Africans are now residing in those areas, has exposed us,” a PEC report dated this February declared.
This acknowledgement set the stage for a renewed focus on engaging the so-called middle-class voters who have been increasingly disengaged in recent elections.
The ANC’s historical connection with the working class has been its bedrock but the shifting demographics and socio-economic status of voters demand a broader approach.
The PEC report emphasised: “We need to improve our relationship with the so-called middle class who, in terms of the research, have withdrawn their participation during elections.”
This shift was not merely tactical but essential for the ANC to reclaim its standing as the genuine representative of the people’s aspirations.
Despite securing a victory in the 2024 general elections, the ANC’s support in the province has dwindled from 57% in 2019 to 51% in 2024. This drop, though an improvement from the 46% garnered in the 2021 local government elections, signalled a need for introspection and adaptation.
The PEC report highlighted: “The recent elections have once more brought some hope to our people that we still carry their interests at heart,” underscoring the delicate balance the party must maintain between acknowledging weaknesses and projecting resilience.
A significant challenge identified in the report was “organisational decay as a result of leadership failures dominated by service delivery deficiencies coupled with sins of incumbency”.
Failures in providing quality, sustainable basic services, particularly at the local government level, have exacerbated the disconnect between the movement and its base.
The PEC report does not shy away from this critical self-examination, stating: “Weak structures on the ground with no ability to connect with the people have become the hallmark of their problems.”
However, the emergence of “a cohort of committed ANC volunteers under the stewardship of the PEC” has reignited political activism and civil society mobilisation within wards and voting districts.
This grassroots resurgence, as the report notes, was pivotal in the outcome of the 2024 elections.
“The previous election campaign has seen the resuscitation of the political activism,” the report highlighted, painting a picture of a party that is earnest about rebuilding its foundation.
The ANC’s strategic recalibration is also a response to the evolving political landscape in the Free State, marked by the growth of liberal parties like the DA and the stagnation of the EFF and Freedom Front.
The PEC warned: “The liberals in the form of the DA are constantly showing some patterns of growth, which is a matter that requires serious attention.”
Moreover, the report acknowledges the presence of new political entities like the MKP and ACT, led by former ANC leaders.
These parties are characterised as “subsidiaries in the kraal of counter-revolutionary forces”, reflecting the ANC’s perception of internal and
external challenges to its hegemony.
Looking ahead, the ANC’s focus on middle-class voters is not just a strategy but a necessity. By conducting research to understand the electorate’s challenges, the party aims to “source the opinion of the electorate” and use these insights to strengthen both political and governance structures. The PEC was clear in its ambition: “Such effort will be guided by the research we intend to undertake.”
