The African National Congress (ANC) faced significant internal turmoil and public scrutiny after failing to announce its final mayoral candidates for South Africa's eight metropolitan municipalities. Despite promising a decisive revelation, the party instead presented a pool of 42 shortlisted contenders, postponing the final choices to September, just weeks before the November 4 local government elections. This unexpected delay, which occurred after extensive interviews and vetting, exposed deep-seated political problems and internal disagreements within the ruling party.
The initial plan was to name candidates for key metros like Johannesburg, Tshwane, and eThekwini, who would then lead the ANC's election campaigns. However, intense rivalries and factional battles, particularly in Johannesburg and Tshwane, made it impossible for the national leadership to make definitive selections. The party's compromise was to have all 42 shortlisted candidates campaign, allowing their performance and community engagement to inform the final decision. The ANC publicly framed this as a strategic move to prevent internal competition from overshadowing the manifesto and to observe candidates' effectiveness on the ground.
Behind this explanation, the candidate selection process highlighted the ANC's fear of alienating supporters of losing candidates, which could cripple their election efforts. A mayoral candidate often commands a significant base of support, and choosing one over others risks creating disunity and undermining the chosen candidate's campaign. By keeping the race open, the ANC aimed to avoid creating "angry losers" and maintain a semblance of unity, at least temporarily.
The most intense battlegrounds include Johannesburg, where current mayor Dada Morero and regional chairperson Loyiso Masuku are locked in a fierce contest, with veteran Reverend Frank Chikane emerging as a potential compromise figure. The struggle in Johannesburg even led to changes in campaign structures, with some insiders linking these shifts to Masuku's camp. Tshwane presents another challenge, as the ANC seeks to regain control from the Democratic Alliance, with figures like Tlangi Mogale and Kgoši Maepa vying for the nomination. In Ekurhuleni, the rivalry between incumbent mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza and Jongizizwe Dlabathi has already impacted municipal governance, illustrating the party's concerns about early candidate announcements.
Other metros like eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, Mangaung, and Cape Town also feature multiple contenders, each with their own support bases and political histories. While the ANC remains dominant in some areas, others, like Cape Town, represent an uphill battle against strong opposition.
This delay comes at a critical time for the ANC, which has seen its national electoral support decline significantly, losing its parliamentary majority in the 2024 general election. The party's manifesto emphasizes capable and ethical local government, but the inability to name its mayoral candidates undermines this message, projecting an image of indecision and internal division. With the local government elections fast approaching, the ANC faces the daunting task of transforming 42 competing ambitions into eight unified and effective campaigns, all while battling a tight electoral commission timetable. The ultimate question is whether this strategic delay will foster unity or further expose the party's struggles to make crucial leadership decisions.
