LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Lungisa’s assault conviction central to ANC’s Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral battle
Andile Lungisa went from ANC mayoral hopeful to candidate list casualty after the party’s vetting process raised questions about his eligibility. Now he wants the courts to decide whether the ANC had the right to remove him.
Andile Lungisa, a former ANC mayoral candidate, is set to take the party and its Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula to court over his eligibility to run for the position. Lungisa was convicted of assault in 2016 and served two years in prison. According to the ANC's vetting process, Lungisa's criminal record disqualified him from running for the mayoral position.
Mbalula denied accusations that he personally instructed Lungisa's removal, stating that the election committee made the decision. The court has reserved judgment, with a ruling expected on October 12, 2026. Lungisa argues that the five-year disqualification period for his assault conviction has expired, while the ANC maintains that his name was removed due to the party's internal rules.
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