The African National Congress (ANC) in the Fezile Dabi Region has come under sharp criticism from its own youth wing following the party’s poor performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections, with the ANCYL blaming poor leadership, factionalism, corruption and governance failures for the disappointing results.
Although the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is yet to officially announce and confirm the final results, indications are that all four municipalities in the Fezile Dabi District – with current unverified percentage of [Mafube 39.54%, Metsimaholo 27.66%, Ngwathe 36.01%and Moqhaka 35.61%] – could be headed for a coalition governments, following the ANC’s failure to secure outright majorities.
“We must stop pretending that these results are simply electoral fluctuations. They reflect communities that have grown increasingly frustrated with a movement whose municipal leadership has, in many instances, failed to honour its mandate,” said the ANCYL Fezile Dabi Region in a statement issued by Regional Coordinator Musawenkosi Zwane and Regional Spokesperson Manti Khasoane.
Meanwhile, the Youth League congratulated all young candidates who successfully contested and won their respective wards in the recent local government elections.
The ANCYL also extended its appreciation to every young person who campaigned, mobilised and voted for the ANC. However, it stressed that the party needed to undertake serious introspection, warning that it could no longer expect communities to renew their confidence without addressing its internal and governance challenges.
On the prospect of coalition governance, the Youth League acknowledged that the election results had made coalition arrangements a significant reality across Fezile Dabi. However, it cautioned against negotiations driven by political positions rather than the interests of communities.
The ANCYL Fezile Dabi Region has called for decisive organisational renewal, the eradication of corruption, an end to factionalism, transparent municipal recruitment processes, meaningful youth representation and the restoration of accountability in local government.
