LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: ANC abandons plan to name mayoral candidates amid fears of supporter backlash
With 42 candidates shortlisted across eight metros, the ANC is heading into local elections without naming who it wants to become mayor.
The African National Congress (ANC) has abandoned its plan to name mayoral candidates before the upcoming local government elections on 4 November due to concerns about internal divisions and potential backlash from supporters. The ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) feared that announcing its preferred candidates could trigger resistance from those not selected, weakening the party's campaign efforts.
The decision comes after the party missed two deadlines for the announcement, initially setting it for August 2026 and then pushing it to September. The ANC has presented lists of potential candidates for eight metropolitan municipalities, leaving the final choices unresolved as the election date approaches. The party's head of elections, Mdumiseni Ntuli, confirmed that the decision was made due to the limited time remaining and the potential impact of disappointment among unsuccessful contenders on campaigning.
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