‘Boss’ Mbalula faces ANC backlash over election list chaos
The ANC is facing internal turmoil after administrative failures led to the party missing deadlines for submitting candidate lists for upcoming local elections. Several prominent members are calling for Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula to be held accountable for the resulting chaos.
Why it matters
The administrative blunder threatens the ANC's electoral prospects in key municipalities, potentially shifting the balance of power in South African local government.
A growing fallout is brewing in the ANC over the party’s failure to submit its complete candidates list , with some national executive committee (NEC) members demanding action be taken against secretary-general (SG) Fikile Mbalula.
The party risks losing some municipalities it controls in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State following internal administrative blunders that saw some of its candidates for the coming local government elections not officially registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) by the August 28 deadline.
Luthuli House’s chaotic candidate registration process has left prominent figures such as ANC and government veteran Frank Chikane — whom the party has earmarked as its answer to Helen Zille and the DA’s campaign for Johannesburg’s mayoral chain — off the proportional lists.
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