ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has announced that the party is intensifying its local government elections campaign.
Image: MY ANC X Account
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has revealed that the party is intensifying its preparations for the upcoming local government elections through a comprehensive strategy aimed at strengthening it's position across South African municipal councils.
Mbalula was speaking during his closing address at the 5th Amathole Regional Conference, which concluded on Sunday under the theme “United in Building a Capable Local Government to Deliver Services to our Communities”.
The conference saw the re-election of the region’s top five leaders, following the re-appointment of Sheilla Xego as regional chairperson, Anele Ntsangana as deputy chairperson, Nombuyekezo Ncetezo-Nkwenkwezi as regional secretary, Sanga Maneli as deputy secretary and Onke Mgunculu as regional treasurer.
Mbalula emphasised the importance of local government elections, stating, "Local government elections are fought in every municipality and every ward. Our wall-to-wall plan means that we must have candidates for every one of the 205 local councils, eight metro councils, and 44 district councils, with more than 4,458 wards and over 23,000 voting districts."
The ANC's 5th Amathole regional conference in the Eastern Cape has elected its top five leaders during a conference over the weekend.
Image: MY ANC X Account
Mbalula added that the party's selection of its councillor and mayoral candidate will kick off in earnest next month, following a decision by the party's National General Council (NGC).
"From the 1st of April, we are starting the process of selecting candidates for all the wards, districts, and metros. The NGC of the ANC NEC has made a decision that the Top 7 of the ANC must lead and appoint mayors at the metro level and secondary cities. That process is going to start. We have adopted the framework at the national level, and we will unveil this framework this coming week," he stated.
Mbalula stated that the party will then move on to unveiling its local government elections manifesto in June.
"We are expected to submit our candidates before August... We are working on a plan for the elections taking place before the end of the year. We are going to launch our local government elections campaign by June this year. Our biggest challenge includes changing the mood of potential ANC voters in 210 local and metro municipalities, he stated.
Mbalula urged the new leadership and party delegates to return to their branches and convince communities to rally behind the ANC in its drive to ensure responsive and service delivery-driven local government sphere.
"As we conclude this regional conference, we are pleased that the conference discharged its duty with utmost discipline, and delegates participated in commissions and elected a new Regional leadership collective. The next local government elections are around the corner. Our approach to the 2026 local government elections requires us to be agile and responsive to the needs and aspirations of our people," he said.
siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za