{
  "id": 4203701,
  "title": "ANC wants two councillors removed in Cape Town after they defected to other parties",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/anc-wants-two-councillors-removed-in-cape-town-after-they-defected-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T13:37:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/elections/anc-wants-two-councillors-removed-in-cape-town-after-they-defected-to-other-parties/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape province has requested for two councillors to be removed from its party list in Cape Town, following their defection to other political parties. Lindile Sonyoka joined the Patriotic Alliance (PA), while Thembinkosi Mjuza transferred to the Democratic Alliance (DA). According to the ANC's letter to Cape Town's municipal manager, Lungelo Mbandazayo, the councillors must be removed from the party list immediately, as they are no longer members of the ANC. The letter was penned by ANC spokesperson Thandi Makasi, who emphasized the need for the municipal manager to follow the legislative and electoral provisions regarding the cessation of office for a municipal councillor. The request was made shortly after the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) set a deadline for political parties to submit their candidate nomination lists. The defections occurred despite Sonyoka and Mjuza continuing to attend ANC meetings and carry out party-related tasks. Following the defections, tensions rose, with a video showing ANC Cape Town leader Ndithini Tyhido and Mjuza arguing in a council meeting. The ANC faces challenges as local government elections are approaching, and the defections have left the party in a difficult position. In addition to the Western Cape, the ANC is also dealing with issues regarding candidate lists in the Eastern Cape, where branch members accused the party of manipulating the list, and in Aliwal North, where members demanded a review of the process following the exclusion of a senior councillor.",
  "summary": "The ANC says the councillors are no longer members of the party and should be removed from council.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Cape Town draft animal by-law targets strays, nuisance animals and attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/cape-town-draft-animal-by-law-targets-strays-nuisance-animals-and",
        "published": "2026-08-29T10:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}