By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula condemned criticism over the party’s mayoral nomination process for the upcoming 2026 local government elections.
The political observers have been questioning the transparency and effectiveness of allowing the public to select candidates.
Mbalula was speaking on the sidelines of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Kempton Park.
He stated the party believes in participatory processes involving the constituencies. He noted that the response to the public participation process has been “unbelievable.”
Mbalula confirmed that all nominated candidates will go through a strict vetting, shortlisting, and interview process. The ANC’s Electoral Committee ensures that only ethical and capable cadres are selected in line with conference resolutions.
He added that the ANC remained focused on governance priorities, including its programme to fix local government and transform the economy ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
The NEC is expected to deliberate on the names that the party need to send to the National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza of who will represent them on the impeachment committee.
The ANC missed the May 22, 2026 deadline to submit its nine nominees for the 31-member Section 89 Phala Phala impeachment committee.
The delay stems from an internal clash between Mbalula and Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli over which members to deploy.
Parliament was ordered to set up the committee by the Constitutional Court two weeks ago to probe whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has a case to answer in connection with the storage and theft of US dollars from his Phala Phala farm.
Ramaphosa is currently taking steps to challenge an independent panel report commissioned by Parliament in 2022 that suggested a section 89 inquiry should follow.
Mbalula confirmed that the NEC supported Ramaphosa’s decision to launch a High Court review of the independent panel report.
“The National Executive Committee have recorded our unanimous support for the President’s decision to launch that review application in the High Court,” he said.
He said exercising constitutional rights does not amount to avoiding accountability.
“The exercise of constitutional rights by a citizen of the Republic, including a citizen who holds the office of President, is not an evasion of accountability. It is the substance of accountability,” he said.
Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary leader George Michalakis meanwhile pressed for clarity about Parliament’s behind-the-scenes legal discussions, as a rules sub-committee faced the prospect of drafting new rules to give effect to the Constitutional Court ruling and to guide the impeachment inquiry.
The sub-committee chairperson Doris Mpapane said the Speaker was within her right to consult lawyers about rulings that impact Parliament and that she will not play any role in the impeachment committee.