Lungisa says ANC has resolved candidate-list exclusion

ANC NEC member Andile Lungisa says his exclusion from the party’s candidate list for Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has been resolved, and that his name will be restored to the proportional representation (PR) list.

What Lungisa says

According to IOL, Lungisa told reporters in Gqeberha that the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) had resolved the matter and that his name would again be included on the PR candidate list.

“The national chair (Gwede Mantashe) spoke of the will of the people… my name will be brought back,” Lungisa said, according to IOL.

Legal challenge and party dispute

According to IOL, Lungisa had launched an urgent court challenge against ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula over his exclusion from the Nelson Mandela Bay candidate list for the November 4 local government elections.

In court papers cited by IOL, Lungisa alleges his candidacy had been endorsed through ANC structures before his name was removed and that Mbalula convened a meeting in Johannesburg instructing officials to remove his name. The papers state Lungisa argues the party’s rules do not give the secretary-general unilateral authority to remove a candidate after a list has been approved.

Wider list problems

IOL previously reported that the ANC approached the Electoral Court after the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) refused to process candidate information affecting 181 ANC candidates across six municipalities. IOL said 130 PR candidates and 51 ward candidates were affected, and that the ANC lost an Electoral Court challenge over those exclusions on September 15 and intends to appeal, according to IOL.

Other high-profile omissions

According to IOL, other prominent ANC figures reported to have been omitted from candidate lists included Reverend Frank Chikane and Nocawe Mafu. IOL quoted the ANC’s secretary-general saying some mayoral candidates were left off lists because of an “error” and that the party intended to resolve the issue.

Reporting note

According to IOL, Lungisa made his comments while attending a meeting with small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Gqeberha. IOL is one of South Africa’s leading news and information websites bringing millions of readers breaking news and updates on Politics, Current Affairs, Business, Lifestyle, Entertainment, Travel, Sport, Motoring and Technology, according to the publication.