ANC to name mayoral candidates before polls

The ANC will announce its metro mayoral candidates before next year’s local government elections to counter its opponents in the lead-up to the elections. The party’s national executive committee (NEC) has approved the selection guidelines for the 2026 municipal elections, continuing a tradition that insists metro mayors be selected by national officials. Kgalema motlanthe announced the guidelines on Monday, following the NEC meeting held at the weekend. “The rules have been tightened, and the minimum qualification is not mandatory, and also the mayoral candidates for the metros and secondary cities will be handled by the national officials to ensure they select people who bring expertise and the requisite qualifications to occupy these positions,” Motlanthe stated. As and when required, lifestyle audits of candidates will be carried out. This could occur when questions are raised about their legitimacy. Some NEC members suggested that the top leaders of the party be chosen to run for mayor in metros. This includes current and former Ministers as well as Business Leaders. NEC members stated that the ANC will need to use its biggest guns to combat the opposition parties’ campaigns, such as the DA which has endorsed Helen Zille, a political titan, to be its candidate in Johannesburg. The rules have been tightened, and the minimum qualification is not mandatory, and also the mayoral candidates for the metros and secondary cities will be handled by the national officials …—  Kgalema Motlanthe, NC elections committee head The guidelines state that all candidates to be considered for the positions of mayors, speakers and chief whips must possess a tertiary qualification from an accredited institution and at least three years’ experience as an MP, MPL or councillor. The regional executive committee will nominate three councillors per municipality for local and district mayor positions. “No candidate who has served two consecutive full terms as a mayor may be considered for a third term in line with the Municipal Structures Act. At least two of the three mayoral candidates recommended by the REC must be female.”The REC said that the current first-term female council mayors must be automatically included in the list of three candidates for mayor. Concerted efforts will be made to ensure female mayors serve two full terms, but performance will be a factor. “Before the national and provincial officials decide on the final candidate, they must ensure that candidates are interviewed by duly appointed interview panels comprised of officials and NEC or PEC members. If the officials are not satisfied that some of the candidates meet the criteria, they may add at least two more names to be considered through interviews. “All candidates will be subjected to the same interview process. The chair of the electoral committee, or his/her nominee, supported by the secretary of the electoral committee, will have observer status during the interviews of the mayoral and speaker candidates. “The provincial officials will appoint chief whips and speakers after recommendations of three candidates for each of these positions by the REC. At least one of the recommended candidates must be female,” He said. − TimesLIVE
2025-11-18 04:50:02