JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The African National Congress (ANC) is finalizing its slate of ANC mayoral candidates and councilor lists ahead of the November local government elections, following an extensive National Executive Committee (NEC) deliberation in Johannesburg. ANC Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu confirmed that over 1,500 hopefuls were considered before the lists were narrowed down, with the final mayoral nominees set to be officially announced in September.
The recent gathering functioned as an extended NEC meeting, deliberately incorporating the party’s alliance partners into the discussions. Bhengu described this inclusive approach as true to the ANC’s democratic tradition, likening it to a traditional “list conference.” The comprehensive candidate list under deliberation encompasses both ward and proportional representation (PR) councilors who will serve as public servants under the banner of the ANC and its alliance.
A primary driver for the timing of this week’s meeting is strict compliance with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). The ANC is on track to submit its complete candidate lists before the IEC’s Friday deadline. Following this submission, a special NEC meeting—the party’s highest decision-making body between conferences—will formally validate, ratify, and sign off on the lists for their onward transmission to the electoral commission.
Addressing recent concerns raised by alliance partners regarding their consultation timeline, Bhengu clarified that these partners have been integrated into the candidate selection process from the ground up. She emphasized that the recent meeting served as the culmination of a broader process, ensuring allies had ample opportunity to make submissions and participate in the final deliberations.
A significant portion of the discussion centered on the educational standards for prospective public representatives. According to the adopted candidate selection guidelines, overseen by the ANC’s quasi-independent electoral committee, councilors are expected to hold at least a matric (Grade 12) qualification.
However, the guidelines also feature a pragmatic waiver to accommodate the realities of the South African education system. Bhengu explained that the party recognizes the value of community stalwarts who may lack formal matriculation but possess deep governance experience, a keen understanding of local service delivery challenges, and strong community support. This provision functions similarly to a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework.
To qualify for this exception, affected candidates must sign a formal pledge committing to complete their high school qualification within 12 months. Bhengu stressed that this accommodation is not a loophole, noting that failure to meet this educational commitment will be actively managed. Any candidate who fails to complete the qualification within the stipulated timeframe will face consequences enforced through the party’s established system of quarterly reporting and performance management for all councilors.