ANC's poor performance at polls a lesson, says Ramaphosa

The ANC's electoral setback in May was a lesson for the party to review and change its tactical approaches in future, President Cyril Ramaphosa said yesterday.

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

Ramaphosa, who was addressing the 30th anniversary commemoration of Joe Slovo's death, said the South African Communist Party (SACP) was opposed to the government of national unity (GNU), but the party and the ANC were still united behind the national democratic revolution (NDR), the transformation agenda and to move South Africa forward.

The event in honour of the former SACP stalwart and the first minister of housing in the democratic South Africa, was held at Avalon Cemetery in Soweto.

It was attended by alliance partners and several ANC stalwarts, including Jeff Radebe and Lindiwe Sisulu.

Foreign diplomats also graced the occasion, while various organisations sent their messages of support to the party.

Ramaphosa said the May elections outcome, where the ANC received 40% down from 57% in 2019, did not signal a decline of the ANC, nor represented a defeat of the NDR. Instead, he said, it sent a clear message that the ANC must act differently and decisively and with urgency to restore people's confidence.