ANC rejects reports of legal spat with Frank Chikane, confirms Lungisa court papers

The African National Congress (ANC) has denied that Reverend Frank Chikane has launched legal action against the party after his name did not appear on the councillor candidate lists submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

Party statement rejects reports

In a statement on Sunday, party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the ANC “categorically rejects as false and without factual foundation reports claiming that Rev. Dr Frank Chikane has instituted legal proceedings against the ANC. Rev. Chikane has not taken the ANC to court.”

Bhengu described Chikane as “a longstanding, disciplined and respected member of the ANC who understands the machinery, processes and internal mechanisms of the movement. His decades of service have consistently demonstrated his commitment to organisational discipline, collective responsibility and the established processes through which ANC members engage their organisation,” and said attempts to portray a conflict were “reckless and misleading.”

Why names were missing

The article reports that 51 of the ANC’s mayoral candidates did not make the IEC candidate lists, and that the party has blamed administrative errors for the omissions.

It is reported that Chikane’s name was left off both the ward councillor and PR councillor lists. The coverage says it is unclear whether Chikane will continue as the party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg, and that there are also reports Chikane told the party he is not interested in the position.

Nelson Mandela Bay candidate takes legal steps

Bhengu confirmed that Andile Lungisa has served the ANC with legal papers after his name was also not submitted to the IEC. Bhengu said:

“The ANC confirms that legal representatives acting on behalf of Cde Andile Lungisa have served the organisation with legal papers. The ANC will respond appropriately through the prescribed legal processes.

She added:

“Given that the matter is now before the courts, the ANC will not litigate it through the media. The issues raised, together with the ANC’s response thereto, will be fully ventilated before the court. The ANC calls on all media institutions that have published or repeated this false claim to correct the record immediately and with appropriate prominence. Media freedom is indispensable to our democracy, but it cannot be separated from the responsibility to verify information and report accurately,”

said Bhengu.

Mayoral line-up in Johannesburg

The party has three mayoral candidates listed for the metro; the current mayor, Dada Morero, and the regional ANC chairperson, Loyiso Masuku, are named as being among those in the running.