ANC mayoral candidate delay signals concerns over party unity: Ndou

Political analyst Professor Levy Ndou says the ANC’s decision to delay announcing its mayoral candidates until September may reflect unresolved internal processes and concerns about party unity.

The ANC faces a tough battle in key metros, where service delivery failures, financial pressures and coalition instability remain major concerns for voters.

Ndou says the party must choose capable candidates who can deliver services, rebuild public trust and work with coalition partners.

WATCH | ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the party has opened the door by allowing members of the public to nominate leaders, while also allowing leaders to nominate themselves as mayoral candidates. He says the move was to ensure transparency. pic.twitter.com/Xa469XQ2cp

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 22, 2026

He says that poor municipal performance, financial mismanagement and corruption have contributed to the ANC’s declining electoral support.

“I see that as a confirmation by the leadership of the ANC that there could be trust issues within the party, and there are certain people who can only be in the ANC only once they’re being deployed to serve in government structures. And that is an issue that the ANC has to look at.”

“Another aspect would be the dynamics within the party, that even though some of the candidates could have been taken to the communities and being approved by communities, the ANC still has to go through its own processes. And such processes could not have been completed. And that is why they all have decided to delay this exercise,” adds Ndou.

Video | LGE 2026 | Prof Levy Ndou weighs in on ANC’s decision to announce mayoral nominees: