Residents of a township near Johannesburg have threatened to withhold their votes from the African National Congress in the upcoming local elections unless they are properly connected to the electricity grid.

About 180 households in the area have relied on illegal connections for more than 20 years.

Community leader Lesiba Rankapole said the residents had made a collective decision: “No electricity, no vote.” He explained that while the connections are illegal, they had no choice because their children cannot progress without power.

Similar frustration is being expressed in other communities across South Africa. Complaints against ANC-led municipalities include failures to provide water, collect garbage, and address mismanagement and corruption. One resident, Enock Majola, said he was born into the ANC but no longer wants anything to do with the party because of the hardship he faces.

The ANC, once the dominant force in South African politics with nearly 70 per cent of the national vote in 2004, has seen its support steadily decline. It fell below 50 per cent in the 2021 municipal elections and managed just over 40 per cent in the 2024 national vote, forcing it into a coalition government.

Political analysts expect the November 4 local elections to further test the party’s strength, particularly in key cities like Johannesburg. Opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance and Action SA, are campaigning hard on service delivery failures, while the ANC acknowledges shortcomings but insists it remains the better option for voters.