Ramaphosa 'confident' of ANC victory despite polls

He was responding to the latest Ipsos poll, which indicated that support for the ANC has dropped to 40,5% just weeks before the elections.

The emergence of the newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe party has seen the ANC drop from the predicted 43% in October last year.

MK's support is at 8.4%, according to the Ipsos poll.

But Ramaphosa remains confident that the ANC will do well.

He addressed the media following Sunday’s party’s provincial Siyanqoba Rally in the Free State.

"Polls are polls. Opinions, surveys or otherwise,” Ramaphosa told the media. 

“We know, as the ANC, how well we are going to do, and our people, in their hearts, know how well the ANC is going to do.

"We are certain of victory. I am certain of the victory of the ANC, as opposed to what is said by doomsayers and those who don't wish us well. 

“All I have to say is that watch this space after 29 May. You will see what the ANC is worth," added Ramaphosa.

Nationally, the poll has 38% saying they believe the ANC will live up to its election promises.

The poll was conducted through face-to-face interviews in March and April 2024 and surveyed a randomly selected national sample across all nine provinces, settlement types, and rural areas in South Africa.

The results for registered voters were weighted and projected using the IEC registration figures, which indicated that the voters’ roll contains 27,698,201 names.

At least 23% of registered voters believe that the country is moving in the right direction, while two-thirds (66%) think that the country’s current "direction of travel" is wrong.

The Democratic Alliance stood at 21.9% compared to 20.5% in February and 20% in October.

For the EFF, Ipsos estimated 11.5% support, down from  19.6% in October.

The drop was also due to the introduction of the MK Party, which was launched late last year.

It has since been endorsed by former president Jacob Zuma.