S. African ruling party "confident" of local elections victory

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has expressed confidence of winning the upcoming local elections.

Addressing the media in Johannesburg on Monday, Jeff Radebe, ANC's Head of Policy, said their confidence was based on what the ANC-led government had done for South Africans.

"Our track record in the last 15 years speaks for itself. We have increased the number of people who can access water, electricity and sanitation," said Radebe, who is also Minister in the Presidency.

According to him, access to electricity in South Africa has increased in the past years to 88 percent from 77 percent, access to water to 86 percent from 80 percent, and that of sanitation to 80 percent from 62 percent.

Radebe described ANC-led local governments as "fairly coherent, functional and efficient", adding the local leadership sign "performance assessment forms" to hold them accountable.

Despite challenges, the ANC has improved infrastructure and informal settlements, added Radebe.

In an apparent reference to reports claiming the wealthy Indian Guptas family was controlling the ANC and alleged infighting in the party, Radebe said the party was "in control".

He, however, admitted that the party's leadership had met the Guptas family to "iron out issues".

Speaking on the same occasion, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said President Jacob Zuma was still "the face of the party and a good brand."

The opposition has accused Zuma of "reckless handling of the economy" and alleged corruption. The president saw a protest against him in December and survived a no-confidence vote on March 1.

Kodwa also denied the ANC was being controlled by the Guptas family.

The ANC "is a too big organization to be captured (by the Guptas) and will never be captured by any individual, company or businessmen," he said.

Kodwa said recent protests over service delivery in the country were "not a rejection of the ANC" but people were asking for corrective measures.

Local elections will be held between May 18 and August 16 for all districts and local municipalities in the nine provinces of South Africa. It is held every five years.

Voters will elect local council members, who in turn will elect mayors of municipalities.

Analysts say the ANC is facing the most fierce competition from the opposition since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Opposition parties, particularly the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have vowed to take over Johannesburg, Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality from the ANC. Endit