A source close to the developments in South Africa, shared that the attendance of less than 50 people was alarmingly low.
"The turnout was a letdown. Despite a significant support base which we estimate to be close to 2 million here in South Africa, the CCC could barely muster 50 people for the demonstration," the source said.
The October 24th event is not an isolated incident. The source underlined that this was the second time that a CCC demonstration had failed to attract the expected turnout.
"The Beitbridge Border Post Shutdown campaign on October 7th also flopped. It's a concerning trend," the source disclosed.
The poor attendance at the demonstrations has reportedly disheartened party leaders.
"There's a palpable sense of disappointment among that party’s leadership. They were expecting a better turnout, especially after the previous flop," the source revealed.
The heart of the struggle appears to be linked to growing division within the CCC. The source confirmed that some party leaders were notably absent from the demonstration, indicating a lack of unity.
“There is significant discord within CCC, which is emanating from the factional disputes among that party’s leadership," the source stated.
Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the CCC, is at the centre of these struggles. The source indicated that the lack of enthusiasm for the demonstrations might be due to waning confidence in Chamisa's leadership from CCC members.
"There's a narrative that Chamisa is losing his grip. The low turnout at these demonstrations is a reflection of that," the source suggested.
The source further emphasised, “CCC is currently at a crossroads, dealing with internal division and dwindling support for its public demonstrations.
“CCC leaders are considering reassessing their strategies and leadership as these flops are slowly becoming the norm," the source concluded.
The demonstrations were part of the CCC's efforts to draw attention to their claims of a rigged election and appeal for sympathy and support from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other international election observer missions (EOMs). However, the lacklustre attendance cast doubt on that party's ability to gain the regional support that it is looking for in its bid for fresh elections.
