Delay in naming mayoral candidates to boost campaign: Mbalula

The African National Congress (ANC) says its decision to delay naming mayoral candidates until September is aimed at keeping the focus on the party rather than individuals.

Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says announcing candidates now could fuel internal competition and distract from campaigning ahead of the 4 November local government elections.

The party will launch its local government election manifesto in Diepsloot, in Gauteng, on Sunday amid growing pressure over service delivery failures and declining public trust.

Mbalula says the final mayoral candidates will be determined by the ANC leadership and voters, warning that an ANC victory is not guaranteed.

“So, behind the whole thing for us is to ensure that we have a party mindset, and that the candidate emerges from a process of campaigning by everybody. In this particular instance, it will be very easy for this thing to shift and rest on the shoulders of individuals. We are traversing new terrain that we have never embarked upon in terms of mayoral candidates, because we announce our candidates after every election. So, we are not hard and fast as we introduce this. Therefore, we think the starting point should be this: get everybody to focus on campaigning for the next two months.”

Following an extensive candidate selection process involving ANC structures and community input, the movement is ready to present the capable, ethical and committed leaders it is putting forward to serve communities across South Africa.#ANCMayihlomeRally#ANCManifesto2026… https://t.co/xaUWAWUgsz pic.twitter.com/vQsI6MaqeP

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) August 22, 2026

Today, the ANC presented the depth of leadership and talent emerging from its candidate selection process across the country.

With our mayoral candidates presented, the work now moves to Riverside, Diepsloot, where tomorrow we launch the People’s Manifesto and set out our… pic.twitter.com/bfT7S9fKYP

— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) August 22, 2026

VIDEO | ANC Secretary-General says the party is not short of people who are experienced in governance:

-Report by Tshimangadzo Ntsumbedzeni