ANC Secretary‑General Fikile Mbalula Faces Candidate‑List Crisis

What Happened?

The ANC missed the deadline to submit its candidate lists for the November 4 local government elections in six municipalities: Ingquza Hill, Port St Johns, Mangaung, uMshwathi, Walter Sisulu and Sundays River Valley. This left 181 ANC candidates—130 on the proportional‑representation list and 51 ward candidates—without official registration.

Why the Party Says It Wasn’t Their Fault

The ANC claims the candidate details were already entered into the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) system before the cut‑off, but a technical glitch on the IEC’s side stopped the final submission. IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo disagreed, saying the commission’s logs show no activity from ANC officials at the times they said they were logged out. He concluded that the ANC simply ran out of time.

Opposition Reaction

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has asked the Electoral Court to keep the missing candidates off the ballot, arguing that the ANC failed to meet the legal deadline. The DA believes the party should accept the consequences of missing the cutoff.

Problems Beyond the Six Municipalities

Similar issues popped up elsewhere. In KwaZulu‑Natal, the ANC admitted errors in eThekwini and Ray Nkonyeni where some candidates were placed in the wrong wards, duplicated, or swapped. The party says it has checked the original submissions and asked for corrections.

Mbalula’s Stand

ANC Secretary‑General Fikile Mbalula has refused to step down, saying any decision about his position rests with the ANC itself. He stated:

“If I did something wrong, I will be the first to admit it. If the ANC says steps must be taken because I’m wrong, that will be the decision of the ANC. It’s not my decision. I’m not defending myself.”

He questioned why some members are already calling for his removal before the party finishes its internal investigation.

Who Holds the Responsibility?

Political Analyst Theo Neethling’s View

Professor Theo Neethling from the University of the Free State says Mbalula carries significant political accountability because, as secretary‑general, he oversees the ANC’s organisational and administrative work. He notes that the lists were finalised very close to the IEC deadline, even though the ANC’s own procedures require earlier completion.

Neethling adds that the ANC’s internal probe found shortcomings in checking candidates’ details, making it hard to blame the IEC entirely. Still, he stresses that the candidate‑selection process involves many layers—branches, regions, provincial structures, the election committee, and the National Executive Committee—so the failure is a collective organisational one. Mbalula, as the top official, bears the ultimate political accountability.

Political Analyst Zakhele Ndlovu’s View

Zakhele Ndlovu of the University of KwaZulu‑Natal agrees that, as the SG, Mbalula approved and signed off the final nomination list, making it difficult for him to claim innocence. He predicts that unless an ANC faction pushes for his removal, Mbalula is unlikely to admit fault. Ndlovu warns that the candidate‑list dispute could become a flashpoint in the lead‑up to the 2027 elective conference and could further damage the ANC’s credibility.

What Could Happen Next?

If the Electoral Court rejects the ANC’s request and the missing candidates cannot run, the party could lose key municipalities or seats. That loss would increase pressure on Mbalula to answer for the mishap. Analysts say a poor election outcome could harm Mbalula’s political credibility and affect his future standing within the ANC.

Conclusion

The candidate‑list crisis highlights gaps in the ANC’s internal processes and places Secretary‑General Fikile Mbalula under scrutiny. While he insists the party will decide his fate, the upcoming local elections and any court rulings will shape how much accountability he ultimately faces. Whether this episode becomes a turning point for the ANC’s leadership remains to be seen, but it already serves as a reminder that effective organisation is crucial for any political party aiming to win voters’ trust.