Elections 2019: Former WC Premier upbeat about ANC's chances in the province

Former Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool says he is cautiously confident the ANC will make notable strides towards reclaiming the Western Cape.

Rasool served as the Premier in the province between 2004 and 2008, and was succeeded by Lynne Brown who held on to the seat for a brief period before handing over the reins to Helen Zille in 2009.

As IOL reports, he cast his vote his vote in Pinelands in Cape Town on Wednesday morning, and admitted that ten years of taking a beating in the province have taken its toll on the party.

I think uniting the party is a difficult thing. The fractures have been deep over the last ten years, he is quoted by the publication.

Ebrahim RasoolIn the 2014 elections, the ANC got 32.9% of the vote in the Western Cape, earning 14 seats in the provincial legislature, while the Democratic Alliance's (DA) 59.4% earned it 26 seats.

The former South African ambassador to the United States now deployed as the ruling party's head of elections in the province was happy with how the campaign had gone this time around.

It was marked with a returning enthusiasm from our core supporters. And I think its been marked by a lack of hostility among non-traditional ANC supporters, he said.

I think I'm cautiously confident, from a low of 26 percent, the ANC does well even when it grows on that significantly. But I think we are also making sure to be in a position to be the government of the Western Cape.

Rasool also reiterated his belief that the ANC is being rejuvenated under President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership.

He had made these utterances amid claims the party was in talks with other parties with the intention of forming coalitions with other parties in the Western Cape.

Tags: 2019 South African ElectionsElections and VotingHelen ZilleWestern Cape

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