The ANC ignored an internal report compiled in May 2015 that detailed all the party’s problems which would lead to a poor performance in the 2016 municipal elections – including president Jacob Zuma’s “shenanigans”.<\/p>\n
According to the City Press, the document was reportedly presented to the ANC top six, who chose to bury it and keep it secret from the rest of the party out of fear it would demoralise party volunteers.<\/p>\n
The officials\u00a0also chose to ignore the report’s warnings as full stadiums at election rallies gave the false impression that party support was still high.<\/p>\n
However, the report told a different story – specifically warning the party that the DA had grown in strength, and that there was widespread dissatisfaction with the ANC and its leaders. The report highlighted that the party was losing support in major metros.<\/p>\n
The report proposed that the ANC deal with “misbehaving leaders” who undermined the party’s credibility, and urged the doing-away of populist politics and to put focus on delivering services to poor communities.<\/p>\n
The document also noted “Zuma factors” and “Danny (Jordaan)” factors, which hindered the party’s performance nationally, but more specifically in Nelson Mandela Bay, which was ultimately lost to the DA.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the paper, ANC task team member Chippy Olver said that the party had underestimated the impact of “moral shenanigans” by national leaders – not realising how bad Zuma’s public profile was.<\/p>\n
Olver said that the party had hoped Zuma’s unpopularity would be overshadowed by local politicians which had a good track record over the past year in Nelson Mandela Bay.<\/p>\n
“We didn’t have a clear strategy for how to deal with people’s very real concerns about corruption and our national leadership,” he said.<\/p>\n
According to the City Press, despite knowing of the document and the party’s problems with president Jacob Zuma, senior supporters of the president have blamed the ANC’s poor performance on the ANC in Gauteng.<\/p>\n
The Gauteng branch of the party has been vocally against Zuma, and refused to use his face on posters leading up to the election.<\/p>\n
However, Gauteng insiders told the paper that there was a standard agreement in the ANC not to use Zuma’s face during campaigning.<\/p>\n
You can read the full story in the City Press for 14 August 2016<\/em><\/p>\n Gigaba and Mbalula tipped for ANC leadership roles: report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Removing Zuma is not an option \u2013 ANC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWeak leaders\u201d to blame for ANC election losses: Dlamini-Zuma<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on post-elections<\/h3>\n