ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is convinced that the governing party will regain control of Nelson Mandela Bay when local government elections are held on 1 November.
Ramaphosa returned to the Metro on Friday, to meet residents of Kuyga on the city's outskirts and also residents of Joe Slovo, while also holding meetings with business and party officials.
Addressing the media during a break in his schedule, Ramaphosa said party members on the ground who have been working for weeks, "have reached a stage and a level where they now feel very confident that the ANC will regain control this Metro."
Ramaphosa said party members and thousands of supporters communicated that confidence to him during his visit, convincing him that the ANC was on "the right path."
"In fact, we are on the victory path, because the response amongst our people is just phenomenal. They know where they went wrong the last time when they did not return the ANC to the governance of this Metro. They now believe that it is doable and they are determined to do it," he said.
Ramaphosa said during the campaign residents raised issues "of great concern to them," including issues around housing, sewage spilling into streets, and the basic service delivery issues that they would like to see corrected."
"So, I have a sense and belief the ANC will be able to regain control of this Metro and be able to restore the confidence that the people are investing in the ANC," he said.
Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa said the ANC would announce its mayoral candidates after the party's "victory".
He reiterated that the ANC was on a path of renewal, which includes ensuring that there are "capable comrades who will occupy positions of responsibility."
"I've been at pains to point that we are no longer going to be appointing people based on their popularity. It is now going to be on ability, and it will have to be proven ability and competence," Ramaphosa said.
