ANC terminates membership of seven KZN members contesting elections against party

Seven former councillors and members of the African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal have lost their party membership after deciding to contest the upcoming local government elections as independent candidates or under rival political parties.

The affected members reportedly entered the race after failing to secure nominations through the ANC’s internal candidate-selection process.

ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial spokesperson Sifiso Sonjica said the party had terminated their membership because they chose to stand against the organisation.

The individuals are contesting wards in Inkosi Mtubatuba, KwaDukuza, Ndwedwe, Impendle and Inkosi Langalibalele.

Who are the seven former ANC members?

The ANC identified the seven members and their election bids as follows:

• Mfana Gumede: Independent candidate in Ward 6 in Inkosi Mtubatuba.
• Chellappa Naicker: Contesting Ward 17 in KwaDukuza under the Independent Alliance.
• Veli Luthuli: Contesting Ward 15 in KwaDukuza under the Independent Alliance.
• Zinhle Magwaza: Contesting Ward 14 in Ndwedwe under the Democratic Alliance (DA).
• Nokuvela Ngcobo: Independent candidate in Ward 4 in Impendle.
• Thabani Makhaye: Independent candidate in Ward 6 in Impendle.
• Themba Xaba: Contesting Ward 19 in Inkosi Langalibalele under the ABCD Congress.

The party said the candidates had chosen to contest elections outside its structures after failing to obtain nominations through its internal processes.

ANC says candidates went against party constitution

Sonjica said the ANC’s candidate-selection process was based on nominations through its branches and communities, where prospective candidates could be nominated, accepted or rejected.

He accused the seven members of disregarding those decisions by choosing to stand against the party.

“Having failed to earn the confidence of the masses, these individuals chose to defy the people’s democratic will, placing personal entitlement and political careerism above collective decisions,” Sonjica said.

The ANC argued that while every citizen has a constitutional right to contest elections, members cannot run against the party while retaining their membership.

“Under the ANC Constitution, accepting candidacy against the movement constitutes an explicit repudiation of membership, resulting in immediate termination,” Sonjica said.

The party added that the seven individuals no longer had authority to represent or speak on behalf of the ANC in the affected municipalities.

ANC urges supporters to back its selected candidates

The party said it would continue preparing for the local government elections with candidates chosen through its nomination processes.

It called on its branches, volunteers and supporters to remain united behind the official candidates, while pledging to focus on improving local government, financial transparency and service delivery.

“We call upon all ANC structures, volunteers, and loyal supporters to remain disciplined, reject political opportunism, and unite behind the movement’s authentic, democratically chosen candidates,” Sonjica said.

The membership terminations highlight tensions that can emerge when party members who are unsuccessful in internal candidate-selection processes decide to contest elections independently or under competing political organisations.

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Source: IOL