James Nxumalo hits back at smaller parties criticising ANC

African National Congress (ANC) KwaZulu-Natal coordinator James Nxumalo says his party has a proven track record of governance and service delivery, as it campaigns to regain support ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Nxumalo, a former eThekwini Municipality mayor, made the comments during a recent ANC campaign trail in KwaZulu-Natal.

JAMES NXUMALO DEFENDS ANC’S TRACK RECORD

The ANC is seeking to rebuild its support in the province after losing its outright majority in the 2024 national and provincial elections. The party received about 17% of the provincial vote, finishing behind the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

The election result led to a major shift in KwaZulu-Natal’s political landscape, with the IFP forming a provincial government through a coalition with the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA) and National Freedom Party (NFP), among others.

Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the campaign, Nxumalo criticised smaller political parties for attacking the ANC, arguing that they lacked the governing experience of the ruling party.

“We hear these smaller parties criticising the ANC and they are able to do so because we have freedom of speech and anyone can say whatever they want. However, it must be emphasised that they can only talk and there’s nothing they can do differently from what the ANC has done.

“Only the ANC understands the issues South Africans are facing and only the ANC can fix those issues because it started doing so in 1994 by building houses, clinics and hospitals as well as supplying water and electricity,” Nxumalo said.

ANC KZN coordinator James Nxumalo has criticised smaller parties for attacking the ANC, saying they lack experience in government. He maintains that the ANC is the only party with a proven track record of understanding government and delivering services to the people. pic.twitter.com/zjyLeFyO2s

— Durban Network (@Durbannetwork) October 5, 2026

PARTIES INTENSIFY CAMPAIGNS AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

James Nxumalo’s comments come as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the 4 November 2026 local government elections, with KwaZulu-Natal expected to be a key battleground.

The ANC has faced growing competition in the province, particularly from the MK Party, which emerged as the largest party in KwaZulu-Natal in the 2024 elections, as well as the long-established IFP.

At municipal level, parties are also campaigning around service delivery issues, including water shortages, electricity, infrastructure, housing and the state of local government finances.

Nxumalo’s comments are part of the ANC’s broader campaign to highlight its record in government and convince voters that it remains capable of addressing the country’s challenges.