Statement of the ANC National Executive Committee on the conclusion of its candidate selection for local government elections
23 August 2021
An Extended National Executive Committee met on 21 — 22 August 2021 to approve the lists of ANC candidates for the local government elections currently scheduled to take place on 27 October 2021.
The Extended NEC. in which representatives of ANC provinces. Leagues. and Alliance partners the SACP and COSATUparticipated. took place ahead of the I EC deadline for the registration of candidates on 23 August 2021.
The work of the Extended NEC was presented to a special sitting of the NEC on 22 August 2021. as required by the ANC Constitution. The NEC ratified all candidate lists and also adopted the report of the Electoral Committee.
The most democratic and participatory process in the country
The ANC's councillor nomination process is the most democratic and participatory in the country. This
approach gives concrete expression to the Freedom Charter's vision: "The people shall govern!" Part of the movement's renewal programme involves subjecting our processes to the will of the
people. This participatory and inclusive process underscores the fact that the ANC plays a leadership role in society — far beyond its own membership. We are determined to ensure that all our public representatives are true custodians of the people's hopes and aspirations.
The ANC candidate selection processes took place under very unusual and difficult conditions. Over the past five monthssuccessive waves of the Covid-19 pandemic have necessitated restrictions on gatherings and movement. We commend the steadfast dedication and commitment of ANC and community members to participate in this important process under these trying conditions.
With regard to the selection of mayoral candidates, regional and provincial structures of the ANC will submit three names to the National List Committee. These candidates will then be subjected to an interview process.
ANC Electoral Committee, chaired by comrade Kgalema Motlanthe, presided over the processes of candidate selection and reported to the extended NEC, as required by the candidate selection rules. The ANC Electoral Committee appointed Provincial List Committees (PLC) and the Regional Interviewing and Vetting Panels (RIVP) to assist in conducting the process.
The ANC placed community involvement at the centre of the selection of ward candidates. This will ensure that ANC candidates are people who the community feels confident will represent them in local government.
The ANC candidate selection process resulted in the nomination of close to 10,000 ward and proportional representative candidates. This was followed by rigorous screening and interviews by the Regional Interview and Vetting Panels and the Provincial List Committees. Candidates were then presented to Extended Provincial Executive Committees.
A critical component of the process was an assessment of the performance of various municipalities over the past five years.
Finally, names were submitted to the Extended NEC to ensurecompliance with the procedures and criteria set in the rules for candidate selection.
Experience and skills, Gender equity, Youth participation,and Diversity
These ANC rules for candidate selection provide that candidates must be (a) people who are capable. experienced and skilled to ensure that the delivery of basic services and governance of municipalities are strengthened and revolutionised: and (b) representative of the diversity of South Africa's people in respect of gender. age. race, as well as disability and sexual orientation, amongst others.
Despite the stringent requirement of gender equity. the persistence of patriarchal attitudes meant that the majority of ward councillors nominated are male. To adjust for this. more ANC women candidates form part of our proportional representation list.
The ANC has been very consistent in ensuring women's participation in all the elections. playing a leading role in South Africa's progress towards gender parity among political representatives across all the spheres of government. Unfortunately. the country's progress in achieving gender parity in all representative institutions has also been held back by the other political parties, whose lists have consistently been patriarchal.
Young people aged 18-35 years in our country constitute an important catalyst for organisational and societal renewal. and the ANC lists include a significant proportion of young and dynamic candidates. The ANC alliance partners COSATU and SACP, and provincial civic structures. were also part of the processes. and have fielded dynamic and capable candidates on ANC lists.
In some areas. ANC structures are also fielding candidates living with disabilities. members from the LGBTQI community. as well as various other sectors of society. The ANC's commitment to non-racialism is a core principle and we must ensure greater compliance with this principle in our organisational processes.
The ANC has committed to field a representative collective of candidates that will. once elected, tirelessly work to speed up the building of cohesive and safe communities. vibrant local economies. access to quality basic services and participatory, clean and developmental local government. To ensure we build an ever more capable municipal government, all councillors will undergo a systematic capacity building training programme that will build skills, appropriate political orientation and most importantly ethical values.
Managing Disputes
Channels for managing disputes are an integral part of the ANC candidate selection processes. Members or structures can, where necessary, formally raise grievances with the process. Various structures have dealt with appeals and disputes throughout the process, often under tight deadlines imposed by Covid-19 restrictions.
A number of members have highlighted their disputes at ANC offices. nationally and provincially. The Electoral Committee dispute resolution structures will continue to consider any serious disputes within the prescribed timeframes, even after the registration of ANC candidates on 23 August 2021. Where necessary, matters will be referred to the ANC disciplinary and other structures for action.
A dynamic local elections campaign
This innovative. comprehensive, and inclusive process was conducted under difficult circumstances during a pandemic. The lessons learned will improve the system even further to ensure the selection candidates that are best qualified to serve the people of South Africa.
The NEC once again wishes to express our deep gratitude to community members and ANC structures who have. with such enthusiasm and discipline. participated in the selection of ANC candidates. Our task now is to initiate a dynamic election campaign so we can emerge with municipal councils that act in the interest of communities in pursuit of economic growth and social development as well as effective and ethical governance.
The Extended NEC reaffirmed that the building of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous South Africa,remains the primary mission and reason for the existence of the ANC.
Issued by Pule Mabe, National Spokesperson, ANC, 23 August 2021
