Ramaphosa Returns to eThekwini for Final ANC Campaign Push Before Local Government Vote

• ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to campaign door-to-door in eThekwini on 28 and 29 October ahead of local government elections
• The visit comes as three polls suggest the MK Party could outperform the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal
• Ramaphosa recently deployed 510 SANDF members to the province amid protests over illegal immigration

KWAZULU-NATAL — ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is heading back to eThekwini on 28 and 29 October for a last-ditch campaign effort ahead of next week's local government elections, as his party battles to contain rising support for the MK Party in the province.

The ANC confirmed the visit in a post on X, stating that Ramaphosa would engage residents door-to-door in Emagabheni VD, Ward 99, hold community meetings in Wards 93, 82 and 62, and address educators at Longaat Town Hall.

"The ANC is taking its local government programme directly to the people," the party wrote.

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ANC under pressure in KZN

The campaign blitz follows three separate polls indicating that uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) is on track to surpass the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, a province the governing party has historically relied on as a stronghold. With voting days approaching, the push into eThekwini represents one of the ANC's most visible efforts to close the gap.

The visit also follows Ramaphosa's decision to deploy 510 South African National Defence Force members to KwaZulu-Natal to support police operations amid protests against illegal immigration in parts of the province, including Durban. On 27 October 2026, demonstrators from the March and March movement, joined by delivery drivers, staged a protest in the Durban CBD.

See X post from journalist Sihle Mavuso here:

Mixed reception on social media

Ramaphosa's return to eThekwini drew sharp responses on X. Several users were openly hostile to the visit, questioning whether the campaign stop would translate into genuine engagement with residents' concerns.

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@Stayela206 wrote:

"The people of KZN must give Cyril Ramaphosa the warmest welcome when he goes to campaign there. Let the reception match the service delivery!"

@BQ_Kunene said:

"If he's in Ethekwini, maybe he could make a stop at Moore Road and actually listen to his people that he wants these votes from?"

@MthiyaneZo14210 posted:

"I hope ANC get zero....."

@carlacarelse wrote:

"KZN voter's will reject him on the ballot box"

@Khamzuzu93 said:

"He's not welcome 😒"

Ramaphosa says ANC is not finished in KZN

Previously, Briefly News reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa firmly rejected suggestions that the ANC is finished in KwaZulu-Natal, declaring the province the historical home of the party as it campaigns ahead of the 4 November local government elections. According to IOL, Ramaphosa addressed supporters in eThekwini on Monday, 28 September 2026, where he sought to project confidence in the party's prospects despite a steep decline in its provincial support.

Source: Briefly News