ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has urged supporters to remain loyal to the party even when it disappoints them, in the same way Kaizer Chiefs fans stand by their team through defeats. “Kaizer Chiefs supporters don’t abandon their team when it is beaten,” Mbalula said during a door-to-door campaign in ward 24 at Freedom Park in Soweto before a by-election set for May 14. “Even if they lost yesterday, the fans still have hope. What I love about Chiefs supporters is their loyalty. They’re resolute. You [ANC supporters] must be the same. We will fix it [ANC].” Mbalula, known for controversial speeches, told residents the ANC is committed to rebuilding and delivering change where it governs. “We must work for the people. Where we govern, things must change. It must be visible that the ANC is in charge and we are making progress.” The campaign comes at a crucial time for the party, which lost its majority in the 2024 general elections after three decades of dominance. Warning about what he called external threats to its survival, Mbalula rallied supporters to defend the ANC at the polls. “We must defend this freedom. It’s tough out there, the enemy is after us. If there is no ANC, who will defend us? The enemy wants to destroy the ANC. Let’s show them on May 14 we’re not going anywhere.” The by-election is one of several tests of the ANC’s grassroots support as it battles to reclaim lost ground in municipalities in Gauteng.