The ANC is facing the most difficult elections since the democratic state, and President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the party to begin the election campaign.

In both national and local government elections, the ruling party has lost support over the past few years.

On Sunday, Ramaphosa advised the NEC lekgotla that the sooner they began their campaign, the better. He stated that although political parties had not officially launched their campaigns, they were already underway.

He stated that they needed to shift into election mode in conjunction with the nationwide campaigns.

This comes shortly after the Constitutional Court granted Parliament an extension to complete the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill until the end of February.

Independent candidates will be able to run in national and provincial elections thanks to the bill.

This is because the New Nation Movement sued Parliament to change the law, and the Constitutional Court ruled in 2020.

In its current form, the law only permits independent candidates to run for local office.

However, independent candidates would be able to serve as MPLs and MPs if the law were changed to allow for this.

Ramaphosa advised the NEC in Gauteng to discuss the beginning of the campaign as well.

Our nation will hold national and provincial elections in just over a year. The ANC will have to participate in probably our most challenging election campaign ever. The National Democratic Revolution and even our nation's future will be significantly impacted by that election's outcome. Even though no party has officially launched its campaign for this election, the campaign for 2024 is well underway. Ramaphosa stated, "We need to get into election mode as soon as possible, and perhaps this legkotla needs to be one of the platforms we use to actually get our election campaign started."

We must make it abundantly clear to voters that the ANC is doing everything in its power to address the problems our people are facing, particularly unemployment, rising living costs, crime, and inadequate service provision. He stated, "Our focus must be on action, action, and action."

According to Ramaphosa, unemployment, particularly among young people, was a serious issue.

He stated that numerous youths between the ages of 15 and 24 were not employed, enrolled in school, or receiving training.

They must deal with some of these difficulties.