Media Statement

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the confirmation by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) that “the inclusion of candidates nominated by the ANC in the six affected municipalities has been finalised”. This gives effect to the judgment of the Constitutional Court of 15 October 2026. All 181 ANC candidates will contest the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.

In a letter dated 18 October 2026 to the ANC, the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr PS Mamabolo, confirms that:

• • “compliance for verification has been completed”;
• • “no voters’ roll exceptions were identified for the candidates and none of the candidates appear on a list of candidates submitted by any other party”;
• • “the ANC is not required to submit any other document”; and
• • “the ballots to be printed will contain ANC candidates”.

The six municipalities are Ngquza Hill, Port St Johns, Walter Sisulu and Sundays River Valley in the Eastern Cape, uMshwathi in KwaZulu-Natal and Mangaung Metro in the Free State.

An elated and relieved Secretary General, Cde Fikile Mbalula, said:

“There is no action or log-in the ANC had to do or is expected to perform. As the names were already with the IEC, the IEC has simply accepted them as they are in its system, without the need for the ANC to act or do anything. The names will now appear on the ballots as well.”

The ANC thanks the IEC for acting promptly on the order of the Court, and calls on its structures in the six municipalities to campaign at full strength until 4 November 2026.

Forward to a decisive victory in the 2026 Local Government Elections!

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