ANC faces pressure to finalise mayoral candidates in Western Cape amid growing internal strife
With support waning, the ANC is under pressure to finalise its mayoral candidates in the Western Cape before the upcoming elections.
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As local government elections approach, the ANC in the Western Cape is under pressure to finalise its mayoral candidate shortlists.
The party, which has struggled to regain its lost majority since 2009, will meet on Wednesday to review and approve the candidate lists submitted by its regional branches, amid concerns about declining support in the province.
At the meeting, the provincial task team can either rubberstamp the three-name lists sent by the regions, make one or two changes, or overhaul them completely.
The task team’s final lists will then go to the national party structures, which will whittle each down to a single candidate to stand per municipality in the elections.
The elections are scheduled for November 4.
The Dullah Omar region has put forward the following names for mayoral consideration:
- Ndithini Thydo, metro regional chair and the ANC’s opposition leader in the City of Cape Town council;
- Mareldia Chouglay, regional deputy secretary, former civil servant and gender activist; and
- Zelda Tarentaal, ANC Women’s League metro leader and schoolteacher.
A fourth name, Jerimia Thynsman, has been mentioned in party circles but is not part of the official shortlist submitted for approval.
Party insiders said the list was finalised last week ahead of Wednesday’s provincial meeting.
“The PTT will have the option to change the list or add to it,” one source said.
Once approved at provincial level, the Cape Town name will be sent to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula's office for final approval.
In Drakenstein, the names under consideration are Dan Kotzé, Lumka Taboer and Dolly Peter.
Kotzé is a long-serving ANC councillor in the municipality and part of the party’s caucus leadership.
Taboer is active in regional party structures and internal coordination work, while Peter is known for her community-based political work in the area.
The province will also consider Stellenbosch’s three-name shortlist.
It is unclear who is on this list.
In the Garden Route, George’s shortlist under the Victor Molosi region has also been submitted as well as Saldanha Bay on the West Coast.
The party's spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni is among the strong contenders.
In Theewaterskloof, Overberg, the names under consideration include:
- Derick Appel, a municipal councillor;
- Bongiwe Mkhwibiso, the party’s chief whip in council; and
- Unathi Spunzi, a regional figure involved in party organisation and community work.
Political analyst Zweli Ndevu said the party is split into rival factions.
"You would expect the ANC to start preparing early with local government elections coming up," he said.
"But the party is moving cautiously because of internal contestation.
"To avoid deepening those divisions, the leadership is holding back and taking a careful approach."
Provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni confirmed the meeting will take place on Wsdnesday.
He said the ANC is running a "strategic process" to select mayoral candidates for key municipalities, including the City of Cape Town.
He said the party has also consulted local communities on the shortlist.
He said once the task team finalises three candidates per municipality, those lists will go to the ANC’s national office.
The national office will then interview the candidates and choose one to stand for each municipality.