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Senior ruling party leaders urged ANC supporters in the Western Cape to be ready for the battle to wrestle the province back from Helen Zille's Democratic Alliance.

Addressing a 98th ANC birthday celebration rally at the Elsies River Civic Centre, National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel told scores of party supporters that the DA's electoral dominance in the pro-vince was temporary.

He said: "We don't enjoy that same privilege here. We don't have the city or the province. But it is a temporary position.

"We will take them back, although it is not a God-given right. We will take them because we represent the interests of our people and we must listen to our people," Manuel said.

The Western Cape is the only province not run by an ANC premier and Cape Town is the only metropolitan council not under the ANC control.

Speaking earlier at the same rally, Labour Minister and ANC Western Cape convenor Membathisi Mdladlana said the party has a battle on its hands if it wants to win back the province.

Urging party members to unite, Mdladlana reminded the audience that the ANC had spent most of its past 98 years engaged in opposition politics.

"Wear your [opposition] cap again, the one you used to wear. But not if your branch is dead. My branch is functional, that is where we start," he said.

"We have been defeated by an alliance between the DA and the National Party. How old are they? We are 98 years old, Hallelujah".

ANC Youth League representative Andile Lili chanted "down with Helen Zille" and told the crowd the Western Cape premier was "the enemy".

"Zille is racist. Helen Zille during apartheid was not there. She never fought to liberate us and today she claims to be the champion of democracy. She wants to make sure the apartheid regime government is back. They are dividing us because they want to take South Africa back to the minority again."

Lili said that in 2011 the ANC would take back the City of Cape Town and in 2014, the province.

Manuel said President Jacob Zuma's annual ANC January 8 statement - delivered at a rally in Northern Cape on Saturday - had brought back memories of when the ANC was banned.

"We would sit in dark rooms listening to [then ANC president] Oliver Tambo on the crackling radio as he brought our marching orders. For the statement is our marching orders for the year," Manuel said.

He urged party members to put an end to factionalism and other destructive tendencies within their ranks.

"Unity is not like a jersey you put on when it is cold. It must be inside us, part of the values of the ANC. Not something worn only when under threat. It shapes the way we work every day. Unity is shaped in struggle."

The ANC voice in the province was too soft, its membership too small, Manuel said.

"We need to change that, to strengthen. Recruit, recruit, recruit. Build active branches by campaigning now, so that people understand we are part of their lives and it is only the ANC they trust to take decisions in their interests," he added.

The former finance minister said it was the responsibility of the ANC to help give the province's 11000 failed matriculants a second chance.

"We must get involved. Teachers must be on time, in class and teaching for seven hours a day."

Manuel also touched on issues relating to healthcare, crime and corruption and services to the poor as he motivated the singing and dancing crowd to devote "more energy" to the ANC.

"It does not start with elections, it starts now. It must happen where we don't govern."