Statement by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa at preview with candidates on the eve of the ANC manifesto launch

26 September 2021

Candidates for the local government elections, Friends and Comrades, South Africans,

We have gathered here this evening a small sample of the nearly 10,000 ANC candidates from across the country who will contest the 2021 local government elections.

These 4,937 PR candidates and 4,468 ward candidates went through a rigorous and robust democratic process to select the most capable and committed representatives to work with the people of this country to build better communities.

In choosing candidates for the next term of local government, the ANC was determined that we should deepen community participation in the process and assign oversight of the selection process to an electoral committee led by the elders of our movement.

We want candidates who enjoy the confidence of the people they are expected to serve, who are rooted in communities and who have a strong record of service.

We want our candidates to reflect the great diversity of the South African people, reinforcing the reality that the African National Congress — more than any other political formation in our country — represents the interests and the aspirations of the South African nation.

That is what we have here among these candidates.

At least a quarter of our candidates are young people, with our youngest candidates being just 20 years of age.

They will bring greater energy and innovation to local government, and a far deeper understanding of the needs of young people.

These young candidates will be joining hands with an experienced cadre of older councillors, enabling us to build on the gains that have been made, learn from our mistakes and take local government into a new era.

It is significant that more than 90 per cent of people who registered as first time voters last weekend were under the age of 30.

We congratulate these young people for making this important investment in their future and the future of our democracy.

Forty-six percent of all ANC candidates are women, confirming the ANC's commitment to gender equality and the achievement of a non-sexist society.

While this is a great achievement, we will not rest until at least half of all ANC candidates and half of all ANC public representatives in all spheres of government are women.

It is significant that there are 41 local and district municipalities where women candidates make up between 55 and 73 per cent of all ANC candidates.

We commend the ANC structures in those municipalities where 50 percent or more of our candidates are women. The provinces of Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga did particularly well in this regard.

The selection of ANC candidates for these local govemment elections is an important moment for the renewal of our movement.

Our structures have been very firm, removing those with criminal records from our candidate lists and seeking to place capability above popularity.

We must acknowledge that the selection process was not without its difficulties.

There were several disputes about the process, allegations of undue interference, and isolated acts of violence and intimidation.

We deeply regret these instances.

They do not represent the ANC candidate selection process, which, for the most part, was democratic, inclusive, free and fair.

Even under the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 restrictions, ANC branches diligently undertook their responsibility to select the best candidates.

Through the Electoral Committee led by former ANC Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, we will continue to improve our candidate selection process and deal with lapses and shortcomings.

Where there was wrongdoing, we will act firmly. Friends and comrades,

Today, we celebrate the 85th anniversary of the birth of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Since her passing three years ago, we have sought to honour her memory by, among others, renaming the town of Brandfort and William Nicol Drive in Johannesburg.

But the greatest honour we can pay this stalwart of our liberation struggle is to follow her example of steadfast commitment to the poor and the marginalised of this country.

As we introduce the ANC's local government candidates this evening, we call on them to honour the principle of selfless service to which Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela dedicated her life.

The hopes and aspirations of people in communities across South Africa rest with these candidates. We all have high expectations of them.

We expect them to display leadership as they go out to convince voters to vote for the ANC, and as they inspire our volunteers through their example of hard work, discipline and dedication.

We want them to listen to the people and engage with their problems.

We do not want them to make empty promises, but to work together with the people to find lasting solutions.

We instruct them to be the embodiment of ethical servant leadership, to fight against corruption and

mismanagement, and continually improve the functioning of local government — to be the best councilors our nation

has seen.

We demand from them that, if elected, and throughout the five years of their term, they stay close to the communities that have entrusted them with a solemn mandate.

They must remain in close and constant contact with residents, providing information, answering questions and addressing concerns.

As part of the renewal of our movement, and to strengthen local government leadership, we have implemented a rigorous interview process to select ANC mayoral candidates.

This is to ensure that every person who is placed in this crucial leadership position in ANC-led municipalities has the experience, capabilities and commitment to fulfil that responsibility.

Tomorrow evening, we will launch the ANC Manifesto, our pledge and joint programme with the people of South Africa to build vibrant and safe communities.

It is these candidates, once elected, who will be our builders, to correct the mistakes of the past, and, working

together with national and provincial government, to build strong municipalities that involve and serve all residents.

We have just over a month left before we must all go out to cast our vote.

We call on the voters of this country to engage with these candidates about the ANC manifesto and their plans to improve people's lives.

And, on Monday, the 1st of November, let us go out in huge numbers to vote ANC and give these candidates a clear and overwhelming mandate to build better communities and achieve a better life for all.

Vote for South Africa.

Vote ANC.

I thank you.

Issued by Pule Mabe, National Spokesperson, ANC, 26 September 2021