ANC disqualifies 350+ candidates, misses deadline

The African National Congress (ANC) has disqualified over 350 councillor candidates ahead of the November 4, 2026, local government elections, a move that analysts suggest highlights both the party's efforts to enforce long-standing standards and the deep factional divisions within its ranks. The disqualifications come as the party prepares to field candidates for the elections, a process that involves branch participation, community input, verification, and final approval. The significant number of exclusions, stemming from reasons such as criminal records and failure to meet qualification requirements, has prompted questions about how these candidates progressed through earlier stages of the selection process. The ANC had prepared more than 10,000 candidates for the elections. Political analysts offer differing perspectives on the situation. Kenneth Kgwadi described the removals as a continuation of factionalism that has plagued the organization since 2007, suggesting the decision to replace candidates is not genuine but driven by factional interests.