ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe says the decline in support for the African National Congress (ANC) should not necessarily be viewed as a sign that the party has lost its political influence, but rather as evidence that South Africa’s democracy is maturing.
Speaking to Clement Manyathela on Radio 702, Mantashe said the growing number of political parties competing in elections reflects the freedom South Africans have to choose which parties they want to support.
He said the ANC was pleased to see this development, arguing that the freedom to form political organisations and move away from existing ones was among the principles the organisation fought for during the struggle against apartheid.
Mantashe also pointed to the 806 political parties registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), saying the growing political competition had contributed to the ANC losing some of its support.
He said: “I see the decline, but I also see the growing number of political parties that are registered with the IEC. 806 parties are registered with the IEC, taking from the ANC; all of them campaigning about the ANC, and we talk about ourselves. I know that even small pieces, when they are together, can constitute a big cut, but the reality of the matter is that the multiplicity of parties that are registered with the IEC reflects the maturity of democracy rather than the decline of the ANC.”
Mantashe maintained that the ability of citizens to associate with political organisations or withdraw their support was part of the democratic freedoms the ANC had fought to establish.
He also acknowledged the challenge posed by opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), as political competition continues to shape the country’s electoral landscape.
His remarks come as the 2026 Local Government Election results point to a decline in the ANC’s electoral support compared with previous elections.
