Johannesburg – The ANC’s mayoral candidate selection process in Johannesburg has exposed tensions between the party’s national leadership and its regional structures, with secretary-general Fikile Mbalula insisting that the final decision rests with national officials.
The dispute follows reports that ANC Johannesburg regional secretary Sasa Manganye questioned the national leadership’s decision to consider several mayoral candidates rather than settle on one candidate ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
Traditionally, the ANC has often looked to its regional chairperson to lead the party’s mayoral campaign. This time, however, several names are under consideration, including incumbent Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero, a former ANC regional chairperson.
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Mbalula said the party would not announce its final mayoral candidate before the elections, arguing that its immediate priority was winning votes.
“We are not going to announce mayoral candidates now. We are in the field and busy campaigning very hard,” Mbalula said.
He explained that the party had identified several people who could be considered for the position after the elections, but had deliberately stopped short of presenting a single mayoral candidate to voters.
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We are not going to announce Mayoral candidates now, we are in the field and busy campaigning very hard. We have told South Africans who are the people we will be looking at post the elections as mayoral candidates. What we did not do is put a single candidate to the people. There is nothing wrong with people being ambitious but it starts with winning. The final decision will be taken by the officials no one else.
#MTBPS2026
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) October 21, 2026
Mbalula says national officials have final say
Mbalula said the regional structures had completed their part of the selection process by submitting names, conducting interviews and drawing up a shortlist.
The final decision, he said, would be made by the ANC’s national officials after the election results were known.
“The mayorship issue is with the national officials. It’s not with the region. The region has submitted. We have interviewed people. We’re done. We have shortlisted, and then that is it,” he said.
He warned ANC members against focusing on positions before convincing voters to support the party’s manifesto.
“There is nothing wrong for people to have ambitions to become mayor, to be considered, but it starts first by winning, by winning a vote,” Mbalula said.
He added that party members had been instructed to concentrate on door-to-door campaigning and engaging voters rather than arguing over who should occupy leadership positions.
“There is everything wrong for an ANC member and cadre to chase a position that you don’t know whether you will get or not get. You have to convince the people about the manifesto and why it is important to vote for the ANC before a position,” he said.
Johannesburg mayoral race remains open
Mbalula maintained that all the people identified as potential candidates had the ability to serve as mayors, but said their ambitions did not give them the authority to decide who would ultimately be selected.
He also distanced himself from the reported comments attributed to Manganye, saying he had not been present when they were made and could not speak to their context.
“I was not there and I don’t know comrades were saying those things in what context. I was not there. I did not hear them,” he said.
The disagreement comes as the ANC prepares for the local government elections, with the party facing pressure to retain support in Johannesburg amid concerns over service delivery and its political standing in the city.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
