By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa says the party will announce its mayoral candidates after the Local Government Elections (LGE).
Ramaphosa was speaking to journalists during a door-to-door election campaign in KuGompo City, Eastern Cape on Friday, 23 October 2026.
In the 2024 provincial elections, the Eastern Cape delivered the ANC’s second-highest percentage of votes nationally, with the party securing 62.16%, behind Limpopo, where it received 73.30%.
The Eastern Cape has 39 municipalities, comprising two metropolitan municipalities, six district municipalities and 31 local municipalities.
The ANC retained an outright majority in Buffalo City, securing 59.30% of the vote. In the Nelson Mandela Bay, it won 48 of the 120 council seats before forming a coalition with eight smaller parties to take control of the municipality.
Ramaphosa said he expected strong support in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and urged residents to participate in the upcoming elections.
He rejected suggestions that the ANC leadership was divided over the selection of mayoral candidates.
The party is yet to announce its mayoral candidates for the elections, instead it nominated at least three prospective candidates in the municipalities across the country.
Ramaphosa defended the decision, saying it was consistent with the ANC’s tradition of announcing its mayoral candidates after elections.
Fullview understands the move is meant to protect the campaign and ensure that the party goes to the elections as a united front
He said the party had introduced changes to its candidate-selection process to give communities a greater say in choosing their representatives.
Ramaphosa also acknowledged that unemployment remained a major challenge, particularly among young people, saying government was working to strengthen the economy and attract foreign investment to create jobs.
He cited Mercedes-Benz as an example, saying government had engaged with the company to encourage it to remain in South Africa and help protect jobs.
He said government was also working to open up international markets for businesses so that companies could continue operating and employing local people.
The President also highlighted infrastructure development in the Eastern Cape, including roads, dams and the Mzimvubu project, crediting Premier Oscar Mabuyane for consistently pushing for investment in the province. Ramaphosa indicated that he would return to the area on November 1, ahead of the November 4 vote.