By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC), Fikile Mbalula says they will select ethical cadres to represent the party in next year’s municipal elections.
Mbalula was speaking at the media briefing of the special national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Birchwood Hotel, Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
The NEC is the highest decision-making body in between conferences, which is set to finalise its guidelines on the list process as it gears up to the local government elections.
Mbalula says “Our process is clear and uncompromising. Candidates must emerge from community consultations, undergo rigorous vetting and be assessed, not by factional loyalty, but by their integrity.” Mbalula said.
He says the ANC wants faithful leaders who will be accountable and restore faith in communities.
Mbalula made it clear that the ANC will not tolerate inept leadership any longer. This comes as the party grapples with widespread service delivery issues, high unemployment, and public demands for accountable representatives.
The secretary general stressed that the ANC is preparing to make sweeping changes in local government across all provinces, informed by a detailed report on service delivery and the performance of public representatives.
He announced that in the coming weeks, the party will brief the media on major interventions, including the removal of non-performing mayors and councillors.
“We know who’s failing us,” Mbalula said, emphasising that deployment is a responsibility, not a privilege, and the ANC will recall those who fall short.”
The ANC’s support declined significantly in the 2024 general elections, leading to the loss of its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994.
The loss led to the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU), which has since been marred by tensions, especially between the ANC and former opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF+).
City of Johannesburg
Mbalula confirmed that the issues between the party and its alliances in the City of Johannesburg have been resolved with mutual respect.
This comes after Patriotic Alliance (PA) issued an ultimatum to pull out of the coalition if its councillor Kenny Kunene was not reinstated to the mayoral committee.
During the discussions, both parties laid out their positions and considered proposals that extended beyond Johannesburg. Issues in Ekurhuleni, Emfuleni, the West Rand and even Tshwane formed part of the wide-ranging discussions.
Mbalula dismissed threats to pull out of the coalition, stating that the ANC values constructive roles but will not be held to ransom over local disputes.
Brown Mogotsi membership
Mbalula told the briefing that the controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi has reached out to him.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into SAPS capture has heard allegations that Mogotsi used his ties with the ANC to solicit money from members linked to a criminal cartel.
He says Mogotsi is not a member of the ANC as his membership has expired.
“He even sent me a message here. He sent me a message. I don’t know where does he get my number. I don’t care. I won’t respond to him. He’s not a member of the ANC. He’s not. To answer your question, Brown Mogotsi is not a member of the ANC. It took me time to go to the records. I went to the branch, even the province. He’s not a member of the ANC. He’s just going up and down, perambulating among leaders (in) his proximity.”
The Commission — which is officially known as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System — has already heard the evidence of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, which was followed by that of South African Police Service (SAPS) National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola.
Other witnesses to have given testimony are KZN Director of Public Prosecutions at the National Prosecuting Authority, Elaine Harrison and SAPS Head of Governance, Legislation and Policy at the Legal Services Division, Major General Petronella van Rooyen.