Mboweni says ANC still has time to 'develop the country' and win next municipal elections

Former minister Tito Mboweni has expressed optimism about the ANC's future, saying there is still time for the party to ensure it wins back the metros it lost to the DA. 

The former finance minister on Monday told ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe the ANC must win the metros in the next municipal elections, which take place every five years.

This is not Mboweni's first hopeful prediction about the ruling party's future. 

Before the local government elections last month, Mboweni predicted the ANC would win all eight metros.

“The ANC will and has to win all the metros and we will win all of them. All cadres to the front,” he said.

However, this proved not be the case after the party did not get enough votes to form a majority government in any metro.

This led to its candidates losing in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni after the EFF, ActionSA and other opposition parties voted for the DA's candidates.

During a social media rant, ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula said the ruling party's real punishment was voters not turning out to vote.

He said the will of the people had to be heard and their problems addressed.

In a media briefing after the conclusion of municipal council sittings, Mbalula also admitted the ruling party failed to convince voters to show up for it at the polls.

“If the ANC does not implement its renewal programme the people will never be on our side. 

“What is that renewal programme? A changed organisation that is going back to its values. An organisation that does not only exist for families, for individuals. An organisation that is firm about corruption, an organisation that is serious about governance,” he said.