SANDTON, Gauteng — The African National Congress (ANC) is set to unveil its mayoral candidates for the 2026 local government elections at the Sandton Convention Center, marking a pivotal moment as the party seeks to rebuild voter trust and improve service delivery. Acknowledging past shortcomings, ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member Lindiwe Ntshalintshali admitted the party “dropped the ball” on infrastructure maintenance, outlining a renewed focus on financial sustainability, ethical leadership, and hands-on municipal governance across eight metros and 22 secondary cities and towns.
The highly anticipated announcement follows a months-long candidate selection process designed to prioritize competence, ethical leadership, and accountability. For the first time, the ANC opened its nomination process to the public, allowing community members and civil society organizations to nominate individuals who meet the statutory requirements for mayoral office.
According to Ntshalintshali, who served on the interview panels, the rigorous vetting process involved 10 regional panels, nine provincial panels, and a final national panel at Luthuli House chaired by the ANC President. Interview questions were specifically crafted to address local service delivery challenges, including water provision, refuse removal, and municipal financial sustainability.
“We need mayors that will be hands-on, not sitting in office, but driving service delivery and administration,” Ntshalintshali stated, emphasizing that candidates must possess a combination of formal qualifications and practical experience.
Addressing the party’s recent electoral challenges, including its 40 percent share in the previous national and provincial elections, Ntshalintshali described a functional municipality as a “three-legged pot” consisting of the executive, the council legislature, and the community. She stressed that municipalities must generate their own income to remain self-sustaining, rather than relying solely on national government grants.
“That is where we dropped the ball,” she explained regarding infrastructure decay. “If you put up an infrastructure but you don’t budget for its maintenance, do you think it’s going to survive? We need to put a percentage of about 5 percent to maintain its infrastructure.”
Ntshalintshali also tackled the dual challenges of revenue collection and corruption. She noted that while national government allocates funds to cover service delivery for indigent households earning below R3,500, municipalities must improve their own revenue collection, which often falls short of the 90 percent target. To combat the abuse of resources, she highlighted the importance of strict oversight through the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), regular Section 71 financial reports, and active Section 79 and 80 council committees. Furthermore, municipal managers must be placed on performance contracts with quarterly reviews to ensure alignment with council-approved budgets.
ANC Treasurer General Gwen Ramokgopa echoed these sentiments, reinforcing the necessity of strong financial management and governance. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Ramokgopa noted that running a municipality is akin to running a business, requiring leaders with proven experiential learning and formal qualifications ranging from diplomas to PhDs.
Ramokgopa also highlighted the party’s commitment to its 50/50 gender representation policy, particularly resonant during Women’s Month, to ensure women are not left behind in local economic development. Drawing on her experience advising the presidency on the district development model, she emphasized that every district in South Africa is economically endowed and requires strategic leadership to unlock that potential.
The event at the Sandton Convention Center is being attended by senior party leadership, including ANC Chairperson Gwede Mantashe and Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo. The proceedings are expected to culminate in a keynote address by ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, who will officially hand down the party’s marching orders to the newly announced candidates.
As the 2026 local government elections approach, the ANC’s newly unveiled slate of mayoral hopefuls faces the immediate challenge of convincing a skeptical electorate that they possess the integrity, financial acumen, and community-driven focus required to restore functionality and trust to South Africa’s municipalities.
