Voters were right not to elect ANC, says Makhura
The poor performance by the African National Congress (ANC) during the 2016 local government elections was due to its arrogance, says the party's provincial leader David Makhura.
The acting ANC chair in the province was speaking at the party's Tshwane regional conference on Saturday.
Makhura says the ANC needs to win back the confidence of Gauteng residents in the run-up to next year's elections.
In 2016 the ANC lost power for the first time since in 1994 in both Johannesburg and Tshwane, with the country's economic hub now governed by a Democratic Alliance-led coalition.
"That is why you are gathered here. If anyone is here for something else they are at a wrong conference. This conference is convening because you want to win back the confidence of our people.
"We have lost the confidence of our people in the capital city."
Makhura told delegates that voters were right not to elect the ANC due to the multitude of sins committed by the party.
"The people cannot be wrong. The people are always right.
"When we behave like they owe us something and we are arrogant when we are in charge, we are corrupt, we do things that shame them, we are not responsive, we don't serve their interest, we look after our own interest. When they don't elect us I say 'they are right'.
"And they must not apologise for not electing us if we are shaming them."
Makhura believes the DA-led administrations in Tshwane and Johannesburg are failing residents.
"These people are doing nothing. The last time you saw something being done was when the ANC was in charge. Go to Hammanskraal, it's the same story. Go to Atteridgeville, go to Mamelodi, it's the same story."