ANC candidate disputes deepen as MK Party targets Eastern Cape stronghold
The ANC’s Constitutional Court victory has failed to quell discontent among some Eastern Cape members whose preferred candidates do not appear on the party’s candidate lists.
The African National Congress (ANC) is facing intense scrutiny over its candidate-selection processes as internal divisions deepen, particularly in the Eastern Cape region ahead of the upcoming local government elections. The controversy intensified on Thursday when the Constitutional Court ruled in the party's favor, allowing it to submit candidate names despite missing the Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC) deadline.
This decision has reignited debates over the ANC's internal democratic processes, placing pressure on party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
Disputes over candidate nominations have strained relationships between grassroots structures and the party's national leadership in areas like Ingquza Hill and Port St Johns. ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji accused unnamed elements within the party of manipulating candidate lists and removing nominees' names without explanation during his OR Tambo Memorial Lecture in Mbizana.
Malatji warned that contemporary ANC politics were vulnerable to clandestine interference, citing the example of Alfred Nzo mayor Tsileng Sobuthongo, whose name mysteriously disappeared from the candidate list.
In Port St Johns, Mayor Cebisa Mazuza faced a motion of no confidence following allegations of leadership failures, which were subsequently denied by Mazuza. Nelson Nontlevu took over as mayor, and the ANC's provincial leadership condemned the move, deeming it unauthorized and contrary to party discipline. The dispute has raised questions about the legality of the council's actions, with Eastern Cape Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Zolile Williams considering the mayor's removal irregular and unlawful.
As the ANC grapples with internal divisions, opposition parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), are stepping up efforts to challenge the governing party's traditional stronghold in the Eastern Cape. The MKP has intensified its mobilization drive, welcoming over 500 new members in Silangwe village, near Oliver Reginald Tambo's birthplace, to capitalize on residents' frustrations over the pace of development and persistent infrastructure deficiencies.
Critics accuse the ANC and local leaders of neglecting ordinary people while prioritizing their own interests, highlighting the growing political awakening among residents and the need for tangible improvements in their lives.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
