ANC mayoral candidate delay raises questions over party unity
· The South African
The ANC’s decision to postpone the announcement of its mayoral candidates until September could point to unresolved internal processes and concerns about party unity, political analyst Professor Levy Ndou says.
The party is preparing for a difficult contest in key municipalities ahead of the 4 November local government elections, with service delivery failures, financial pressures and coalition instability expected to feature prominently in the campaign.
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The ANC has, for now, enlisted its current mayor, Dada Morero, his deputy, Loyiso Masuku, and party veteran Reverend Frank Chikane as its possible Johannesburg candidates ahead of the local government elections.
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Regain the confidence of voters
Ndou says the delay could reflect challenges within the ANC as it attempts to finalise candidates who will be able to regain the confidence of voters and effectively govern municipalities.
“I see that as a confirmation by the leadership of the ANC that there could be trust issues within the party,” Ndou said.
He suggested that the party may also be grappling with concerns about members whose political involvement is closely linked to opportunities for deployment into government structures.
“There are certain people who can only be in the ANC only once they’re being deployed to serve in government structures. And that is an issue that the ANC has to look at,” he said.
Internal processes under scrutiny
Ndou said another possible explanation for the delay is that the ANC’s internal candidate-selection processes have not yet been completed.
While some potential candidates may already have been presented to communities and received their approval, the party still needs to complete its own internal procedures before formally announcing its choices.
“Even though some of the candidates could have been taken to the communities and being approved by communities, the ANC still has to go through its own processes,” Ndou said.
“Such processes could not have been completed. And that is why they all have decided to delay this exercise.”
Tough election battle ahead
The ANC faces a challenging electoral environment in several major metros, where residents have expressed frustration over deteriorating infrastructure, unreliable services and municipal financial problems.
Ndou says these issues have contributed to the party’s declining electoral support and will place significant pressure on its mayoral candidates.
He believes the ANC needs to select candidates who are not only politically credible but also capable of improving service delivery, restoring public confidence and navigating coalition governments.
The party’s choices will therefore be closely watched as it attempts to strengthen its position ahead of the November elections.
The delayed announcement gives the ANC additional time to finalise its candidates, but it also risks reinforcing questions about the party’s internal cohesion and readiness for the electoral battle.