A Year For The Turning Of Political Tables?

As South Africa’s local government elections loom, the ruling party may face the wrath of urbanisation.

- Andile Ntingi

There is a threat to the ANC’s 26-year grip on power, but this danger does not emanate from its political foes.

The threat comes from rapid urbanisation and this formidable rival already sent a strong message to the ruling party when it lost the control of three metropoles during the 2016 local government elections.

Throughout South Africa, thousands of poor, unemployed people are deserting their villages to seek greener pastures in major cities. These migrants leave their villages deeply in love with the ANC, only to relocate to squalid squatter camps, where the resentment for their beloved organisation is fomented.

In their villages, these migrants never engaged in service delivery protests despite being subjected to unfulfilled promises of rural economic development so often woven in the lexicon of sweet-talking politicians. But in cities, the villagers-turned-city dwellers revolt against the ANC-led government, demanding houses, clean water, flush toilets, effective crime fighting, tarred roads, and free electricity. From time to time, when promised jobs are not forthcoming, they attack foreign nationals for allegedly stealing jobs, business opportunities, and local women.

Land, wealth disparity, and illegal immigration are now important electoral issues and are all influenced by urbanisation.

The rising number of people flocking into cities is not only increasing competition for resources, but also infrastructure is unable to cope with the influx.