South Africa's ruling ANC confident of winning local elections

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) said on Thursday that it is confident of winning a decisive victory in the upcoming local government elections.

The party said it will win all municipalities that it currently governs as well as winning new municipalities where the opposition parties control.

The opposition has dismally failed to advance the progressive agenda of fundamental socio-economic transformation for the people, the ANC said in its latest update on preparations for the elections, scheduled for August 3, in which municipality councilors and mayors will be elected.

As the elections are drawing near, the ANC has intensified its engagement with the people across the length and breadth of the country.

"Everywhere the leadership has been deployed, we have received a very warm reception from our people, who rely on their daily lived experience of a better life, rather than polls, to assess and commend the ANC for the work we have done over the last 15 years of democratic local government," ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

The elections come as the government under the ANC is facing a series of challenges, including the Nkandla scandal in which President Jacob Zuma is accused of abusing public funds in security upgrades at his private home and the "state capture" by the Indian Gupta family which allegedly keeps close ties with Zuma and the ANC.

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

The DA and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have vowed to take over major municipalities like Johannesburg, Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Bay municipality from the ANC. Endit