ANC Mayoral Candidate Plan Sparks Backlash as South Africans Question Fikile Mbalula’s Strategy

• African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula addressed the media about the upcoming elections
• Mbalula insisted that no mayoral candidates would be named before the 4 November Local Government Elections
• The announcement drew sharp criticism from South Africans online, who questioned the ANC's transparency

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG — African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that the party will not be announcing its mayoral candidates ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, sparking criticism online.

Mbalula told reporters at a post-mid-term budget speech media briefing at Luthuli House on 21 October that the priority is first winning at the ballot box.

"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 the people are that we will be looking at post the elections as mayoral candidates. What we did not do is put a single candidate to the people," he said.

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ANC officials to decide after votes are counted

The Secretary-General clarified that the responsibility for selecting mayors rests solely with national officials, not regional structures. He said shortlisting had already taken place following interviews, but that the final determination would only be made once election results were known.

"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," Mbalula said.

He added that ANC members had been "pulled into line" and cautioned against focusing on positions rather than voter outreach and door-to-door campaigning.

Social media reacts to ANC's approach

The briefing triggered strong reactions online, with many South Africans dismissing the strategy as evasive or self-serving.

@Bunterwp wrote:

"It's only done to deceive people...you will later parachute in some corrupt, inept and incompetent cadre to lead the council. The individual will be clueless of the Metro or town's specific plans but beholden to the ANC NEC and its gluttony for looting."

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@Simkha11 said:

"This is not democracy. The people are going to vote for a candidate they don't know. Only for Mbalula to impose his favourites after the election."

@WomackDw was dismissive, writing:

"Trust them to put the right person in the job. Absolute joke."

@Nate5enb warned:

"Yassis, whichever idiot came up with this strategy is going to be left with massive egg on their face. Face it, there's no one left that's worthy in this organisation. Nov 4 is going to finish you."

@Seancology wrote bluntly:

"Oh please. You don't have candidates. We were not born yesterday."

@z2kbyxg8fr added:

"No, no, no, you're doing something fishy. We can smell it from here."

Other stories about the ANC's mayoral candidates

• In May 2026, the ANC asked citizens to nominate mayoral candidates for the Local Government Elections.
• South Africans were left in disbelief as the ANC reportedly considered Nhlanhla Lux as a mayoral candidate.
• In October 2026, the ANC decided against announcing its preferred mayoral candidates in any of the metropolitan municipalities.

Source: Briefly News