The ANC fears that Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters will eat more into the governing party's strongholds going forward.
A frank internal research report seen by Sowetan warned in May, three months before the elections that "dysfunctional state service, corrupt leaders, scandals and lack of contact with communities" would cost the party "hundreds of thousands of votes".
The party's survey also sent a stern warning that there was going to be overall loss of votes in strong ANC areas with the metros being the "worst".
The report emerged as the ANC's national executive committee was meeting in Irene, Pretoria, at the weekend to take stock of the party's worst performance at the polls since 1994.
It was presented to all ANC structures including the top six officials and parliamentary caucus. But it appears the ANC leadership did not heed the call.
ANC NEC takes collective responsibility and will not recall Jacob Zuma
The research states that "ANC voters were happy about social grants, justice and rights, medium about service delivery, very negative about jobs, [and] leadership corruption". "ANC retains confidence as the path to their [voters'] aspirations, and progress is recognised ... but they are increasingly worried and feeling pain, fearful that their organisation is being used to put the interest of self-serving, uncaring individuals before those they represent, the ANC is taking supporters for granted, not caring enough and stuck in the past," the report says.
It warned ANC leaders not to underestimate the impact of the EFF entering local space on issues that matter and provoking conflict with "uncaring state" through land invasions, service delivery problems and fighting for the poor.
The research notes the "EFF may still grow targeting ANC strongholds, got votes across all classes" while the DA was growing stronger among coloured, Indian and small urban voters. It also warned that there would be lower voter turnout in ANC areas.
"Since 2006 the opposition get much higher turnout than the ANC, which means a lot of ANC voters stay at home, biggest difference in local government. This election could be worse than 2011 when opposition mobilised 7% more than the ANC in the voting districts," the report says.
Some of the solutions suggested included removing offending and incompetent councillors "now" and preventing officials, politicians and councillors from doing business with the state.
ANC warns of EFF threat
The ANC fears that Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters will eat more into the governing party's strongholds going forward.
A frank internal research report seen by Sowetan warned in May, three months before the elections that "dysfunctional state service, corrupt leaders, scandals and lack of contact with communities" would cost the party "hundreds of thousands of votes".
The party's survey also sent a stern warning that there was going to be overall loss of votes in strong ANC areas with the metros being the "worst".
The report emerged as the ANC's national executive committee was meeting in Irene, Pretoria, at the weekend to take stock of the party's worst performance at the polls since 1994.
It was presented to all ANC structures including the top six officials and parliamentary caucus. But it appears the ANC leadership did not heed the call.
ANC NEC takes collective responsibility and will not recall Jacob Zuma
The research states that "ANC voters were happy about social grants, justice and rights, medium about service delivery, very negative about jobs, [and] leadership corruption". "ANC retains confidence as the path to their [voters'] aspirations, and progress is recognised ... but they are increasingly worried and feeling pain, fearful that their organisation is being used to put the interest of self-serving, uncaring individuals before those they represent, the ANC is taking supporters for granted, not caring enough and stuck in the past," the report says.
It warned ANC leaders not to underestimate the impact of the EFF entering local space on issues that matter and provoking conflict with "uncaring state" through land invasions, service delivery problems and fighting for the poor.
The research notes the "EFF may still grow targeting ANC strongholds, got votes across all classes" while the DA was growing stronger among coloured, Indian and small urban voters. It also warned that there would be lower voter turnout in ANC areas.
"Since 2006 the opposition get much higher turnout than the ANC, which means a lot of ANC voters stay at home, biggest difference in local government. This election could be worse than 2011 when opposition mobilised 7% more than the ANC in the voting districts," the report says.
Some of the solutions suggested included removing offending and incompetent councillors "now" and preventing officials, politicians and councillors from doing business with the state.
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