- The ANC decided against announcing its preferred mayoral candidates in any of the eight metropolitan municipalities ahead of the elections
- Party insiders cited fears that naming candidates could fracture local structures and suppress campaigning efforts
- The ANC's head of elections confirmed the decision after the party missed two successive deadlines to make the announcement
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SOUTH AFRICA — The African National Congress has quietly shelved plans to publicly name its preferred mayoral candidates before the 4 November 2026 local government elections, citing concerns about internal divisions and the impact on its campaign.
The party's National Executive Committee reportedly determined that announcing its chosen candidates risked alienating supporters of those not selected, potentially causing them to withdraw from campaign efforts at a critical moment.
An ANC insider told Daily Maverick that local structures lacked the political maturity to process such a decision without fracturing.
ANC misses two deadlines on mayoral announcements
The party had already missed two self-imposed deadlines — one in August and a revised target in September — to name its mayoral picks. Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula had previously indicated that final selections would follow a formal assessment process, but the ANC ultimately released lists of potential candidates without confirming who would stand in each of the country's eight metropolitan municipalities.
Mdumiseni Ntuli, the ANC's head of elections, confirmed the change of direction, stating that candidates had been interviewed and assessed but that limited time and campaign risk made a public announcement inadvisable.
Johannesburg race highlights the dilemma
The Johannesburg mayoral contest illustrates the difficulty the ANC faces. Three figures are in contention: incumbent mayor Dada Morero, regional chairperson Loyiso Masuku, and ANC veteran Reverend Frank Chikane. Settling on one name risks alienating the networks and supporters backing the other two.
Similar dynamics are playing out in the remaining metros. In Tshwane, former regional chairperson Kgoši Maepa and Human Settlements MMC Aaron Maluleka are among six shortlisted candidates. Ekurhuleni's list includes incumbent mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza and regional secretary Jongizizwe Dlabathi. In eThekwini, where the ANC faces pressure from the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party, incumbent mayor Cyril Xaba and former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube are both in the running.
Constitutional Court ruling adds pressure to IEC
Previously, Briefly News reported that the ANC secured a Constitutional Court victory on 15 October 2026, when judges ruled in its favour after the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) excluded 181 of its candidates across six municipalities. The ruling compels the IEC to restore 51 ward candidates and 130 proportional representation candidates to ballot papers.The commission said it would comply with the order and extended similar relief to 32 other affected parties.
Source: Briefly News
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