ANC DID WELL IN BY-ELECTIONS, WILL DO MUCH BETTER IN FUTURE

The much-publicised Democratic Alliance (DA) Western Cape win of two wards in yesterday's (26 May 2010) by-elections is bound to be short-lived as the ANC's mobilisation machinery is already in full swing.

Out of a total of 15 contested wards in six provinces, we are encouraged to have retained eight wards and having convincingly taken over Ndwedwe in KwaZulu-Natal from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). We congratulate our cadres in KwaZulu-Natal for having worked hard for this victory. We call on comrades in other provinces to emulate KwaZulu-Natal's example.

The Western Cape loss as well as that to an independent candidate in the Limpopo is a wake-up call to all our structures to redouble efforts in engaging and working with communities - in line with the recently launched Imvuselelo campaign, which has already attracted members of other political parties who have now joined the ANC.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC National Spokesperson, May 26 2010

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