The African National Congress (ANC) has once again failed to unveil its final mayoral candidates ahead of the much-anticipated November Local Government Elections.
On Saturday, during what was expected to be an announcement of the party’s mayoral candidates in Sandton, Johannesburg, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula instead kicked the can further down the road.
Rather than confirming the successful candidates who will lead the party’s campaign, Mbalula presented a pool of potential candidates shortlisted from more than 500 applicants across the country’s eight metros and cities.
He said the ANC would announce its official mayoral candidates in September.
“We are very confident in the process and we are very much confident that we have upped the ante in terms of the candidates, particularly mayoral candidates,” said Mbalula.
“In the past, what used to happen is that you would have a candidate after the election, and whether that candidate is qualified or not, you would then get that person to become the mayor. Now we are fixated. A mayor must have certain qualities and must also have education as a base in terms of a mayoral candidate,” he explained.
In Mangaung Metro Municipality, eight candidates were named as potential contenders for the mayoral position, the highest number among the municipalities announced.
They include incumbent Mayor Gregory Nthatisi, Deputy Mayor Lulama Titi-Odili and former mayor Thabo Manyoni.
Mangaung Speaker Lawrence Mathae, Theodorah Mosala, Malebo Sekhopi, Vusumzi Soqaga and Motshewa Tladi were also named among the potential candidates.
In the financially strained Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality, five candidates are vying for the position. They include current Mayor Tumelo Thebe and former mayor Malekula Melato, who was removed from office through a motion of no confidence in March this year.
Ntombikayise Mofutsanyana-Mbuli, Connie Msibi and Pitso Noe were also named as potential candidates.
In Matjhabeng Municipality, embattled Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipa faces competition from party regional treasurer Dikeledi Direko, as well as Sipho Manase, Daniel Marotholi, Nyameko Mtebele, Mpolaile Radebe and Victoria Van Rooyen.
Despite the party’s earlier advisory that it will be unveiling the names of those who will represent the party in the eight metros and 44 district municipalities, National Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe told media that one of the reasons the party did not announce a single candidate for each municipality was to prevent unsuccessful contenders from defecting to other political parties.
“People must see that these are the people that were nominated by the ANC. Here they are, so that when they defect, they can see that this one was at the ANC event,” Mantashe said.
