ANC names Hassan Mako as Emfuleni mayoral candidate amid criticism over recycled leadership

The ANC’s Gauteng Provincial Task Team has named Councillor Hassan Mako as its Executive Mayoral candidate for Emfuleni Local Municipality, a selection that has drawn sharp criticism from the Democratic Alliance and raised fresh questions about the ruling party’s local leadership choices.

Who was chosen and how the party describes him

The ANC’s Gauteng Provincial Task Team announced Mako’s nomination after a process the party said involved “rigorous interviews” and “three nominations from the ANC Sedibeng Regional Executive Committee.” Mzi Khumalo, the PTT spokesperson, said the decision followed a process undertaken by the ANC National Office Bearers.

In its statement, the ANC highlighted Mako’s political background, saying he has worked as a community development worker, served as the ward councillor for Ward 37, and was later appointed MMC for Finance in Emfuleni. The party also noted his progression through the ANC Youth League, where he served as Branch Secretary, Branch Chairperson and ANCYL Zonal Chairperson.

DA response: ‘recycled leaders’ and financial concerns

The DA in Gauteng described the choice as “shocking.” Kingsol Chabalala, the DA’s mayoral candidate for Emfuleni, criticised Mako’s record as finance MMC under former mayor Sipho Radebe, who resigned at the request of the ANC.

“As MMC for Finance, Hassan Mako has failed to restore financial stability in Emfuleni,”

Chabalala told The Citizen. He pointed to the municipality’s debts to Eskom and Rand Water and said those liabilities had prompted repeated legal actions, including the attachment of municipal bank accounts to recover outstanding debts. Chabalala said those developments “raise serious questions about his ability to lead the municipality effectively as mayor.”

Political analysis and local context

Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast told The Citizen the ANC’s reputation has been harmed by long-standing corruption and service delivery problems. He said voters do not necessarily choose candidates on personal merit alone but consider the party banner under which they stand.

“People are not stupid. You do not vote for the person, you vote for the party that person contests under, the banner of the ANC… the political longevity of the ANC has been affected by institutionalised corruption, that is the problem,”

Breakfast said.

Breakfast also said voters want parties that can deliver basic services and predicted the ANC would not perform well in the upcoming local government elections. He noted younger voters are an important factor in that outlook.

What prompted the change in Emfuleni

The move to replace the previous mayor, Sipho Radebe, came after the ANC requested his resignation. The party’s decision to put forward Mako follows a period in which the DA won a ward in Evaton in a by-election, a result the ANC acknowledged as a concern for its local leadership.

What remains clear

The ANC says it is confident Mako is suited to address the challenges facing Emfuleni. Critics argue his role in the municipality’s financial management under the prior administration undermines that claim. The announcement sets up a contested mayoral contest in a municipality where service delivery and governance failures have been central political issues.