The ANC has set a list of tightened requirements for its members who want to be councillors after the much-anticipated 2026 local government elections, where it is expected to face stiff competition from all sides.
In one of the updated requirements, the party wants all its candidates to be in possession of at least a matric certificate. It says this requirement can only be waived under exceptional circumstances.
Party Electoral Committee
The proposed requirements are contained in an internal document prepared by the party’s Electoral Committee (IC) to guide branches when nominating candidates. The committee was appointed by the party’s national executive committee in 2020. And it directly reports to it.
“A minimum requirement to qualify is that candidates must possess a matric qualification and/or have the capacity, experience, education or expertise that will enable them to make a constructive contribution within the municipal council.
“The requirement for a matric qualification may be waived by the Electoral Committee under exceptional circumstances. All candidates must have completed the four OR Tambo Leadership School online modules before being registered with the IEC,” the committee proposed in the document.
The party also wants candidates with criminal records or pending cases to be barred from contesting the elections under its banner.
Criminal record
“Have no criminal record or criminal charges brought by the NPA (this excludes political-related crimes committed before April 1994). Private prosecutions are excluded unless these result in criminal convictions by the courts of law.
“No candidate shall be eligible for nomination if they have been found guilty by a Disciplinary Committee for contravening the ANC Code of Conduct. And if they had their membership suspended for any period in the last ten years. This rule applies also where a member is awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing or an appeal.
“No candidate shall be eligible for nomination if they are temporarily suspended pending the outcome of a court case or disciplinary hearing. No candidate shall be eligible for nomination if his or her case has been finalised by the Integrity Commission and the NEC has approved and implemented the IC’s recommendation for a suspension of membership or stepping aside from leadership or public office.”
Furthermore, the committee proposed that candidates who engage in factional activities, disruption of Community meetings and BGMs (branch general meetings) or other ANC meetings and programmes shall be immediately disqualified by the Electoral Committee upon assessment of available evidence.
Bribery
Also to be disqualified are those who use money to influence branch members to nominate them.
“To ensure that money plays no role in the candidate selection process, candidates and their supporters may not produce T-shirts, media, branding of any object, banners, pamphlets or posters. They may not engage in any campaign that relies on donations or spending own money. With the exception of paying for meeting venues.
“Candidates may not pay any member or supporter to campaign for them. Candidates found using money or dispensing patronage to buy votes will be disqualified from the candidate selection process and expelled from the ANC following internal disciplinary measures.”
It is not yet clear whether the document has been presented to the NEC or not for approval. At the time of compiling this report, the ANC’s national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, had not responded to our questions.
