ANC unleashes Lesufi and senior Gauteng leaders on Vaal ahead of contested local elections

The ANC has deployed Gauteng Convenor and Premier Panyaza Lesufi and a senior provincial leadership entourage to the Vaal as the governing party intensifies its efforts to shore up support ahead of the highly contested local government elections.

Lesufi returned to Roshnee in Ward 21 to engage community leaders, accompanied by ANC Sedibeng chairperson and head of the Service Delivery War Room Mlungisi Hlongwane, Special Advisor to the Premier and head of the Service Delivery Rapid Response Team Xayiya, Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness and ANC Women's League provincial chairperson Faith Mazibuko, as well as local ANC leaders.

The visit follows a meeting between Roshnee community leaders and Sedibeng ANC leadership about a month ago, where residents raised a number of concerns and called for direct engagement with senior government officials.

The ANC's renewed focus on Roshnee comes as political parties gear up for local government elections, with the Vaal expected to be a key battleground.

Lesufi described the Roshnee community as "friends of the ANC", highlighting its longstanding support for the governing party.

The visit was also presented as evidence that the ANC is seeking to maintain its relationship with communities beyond election campaigns.

"This is the ANC in action – listening to the people, responding to their concerns and mobilising government to act," the party said.

The ANC said the engagement forms part of its efforts to deepen its relationship with communities and ensure that residents' concerns are placed at the centre of its drive to improve service delivery in Gauteng.

The high-profile deployment to Roshnee signals the political importance the ANC attaches to the Vaal as it seeks to persuade communities to renew its mandate at the ballot box.