KUGOMPO CITY, Eastern Cape — ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has issued a strong call for calm following the ANC candidate list debacle, urging party members to allow legal and court processes to unfold after a reported technical glitch hindered the timely submission of election candidates to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The African National Congress is currently at risk of missing out on contesting the upcoming local government elections in four Eastern Cape municipalities: Ingquza Hill, Walter Sisulu, Sunday’s River Valley, and Port St. John’s. These local authorities are traditionally considered strongholds for the party.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an engagement with faith-based organizations at the City Hall in KuGompo City, Mantashe emphasized that 97% of the party’s candidates were submitted successfully, with only 3% outstanding. He noted that the party has approached the courts because official reports indicate a systemic technical glitch that affected not only the ANC, but 45 political parties in total.
“When you deal with problems, you don’t blame. Once you begin to blame, you’ll not get a solution,” Mantashe stated, actively discouraging internal finger-pointing over the administrative failure.
To address the root cause of the issue, Party Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has officially instituted a forensic investigation into the failure to submit the candidate lists on time for the Eastern Cape. Mantashe clarified that the outcomes of this forensic probe will help the Provincial Executive Committee (PC) provide proper accountability to the membership.
Defending the provincial structure’s efforts, Mantashe noted that the candidate lists were registered at the national headquarters, not at the provincial level. “The province did its part. We concluded our list, went through an extended PC meeting, adopted our list, and sent people to ensure our lists are registered,” he explained, adding that the provincial secretary and regional secretary were personally present to oversee the submission process.
Looking ahead, a PC meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, marking the first formal gathering since the issue arose. Mantashe indicated that the Provincial Leadership Committee (PLC) will report directly to the PC, ensuring the committee can speak from a fully informed position rather than relying on gossip or speculation.
The party’s matter concerning the disputed candidate lists is set to be heard in the electoral court on Tuesday, where the ANC will seek legal recourse to rectify the technical omission and secure its place on the ballot in its Eastern Cape strongholds.