Eastern Cape ANC chairperson Oscar Mabuyane has raised concerns about problems linked to the party’s candidate registration process ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The ANC is facing questions over the registration of some of its candidates in the Eastern Cape.
Mabuyane says he cannot rule out the possibility of internal sabotage.
However, he says the party first needs to establish what happened.
The issue follows problems with the submission of some ANC candidates to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
ANC candidate lists affected
Several municipalities have reportedly been affected by the registration problems.
These include Ngquza Hill, Port St Johns, Walter Sisulu and Sunday’s River Valley.
According to reports, some candidate lists were not successfully processed during the registration period.
As a result, the ANC now needs to establish why the problems occurred.
The party has previously blamed technical problems for the difficulties.
At the same time, ANC national secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has said that the party submitted its candidate lists and paid the required fees.
Mabuyane wants answers
Mabuyane says the matter must be investigated.
He wants the ANC to determine whether technical problems caused the issue.
He also wants the party to establish whether anyone deliberately interfered with the registration process.
There is currently no confirmed evidence that internal sabotage took place.
Therefore, the claim remains an allegation that still needs to be investigated.
If an investigation finds that someone deliberately interfered with the process, the ANC could take action against those responsible.
Election preparations
The controversy comes as political parties prepare for the local government elections.
The elections are scheduled for 4 November 2026.
Candidate registration is an important part of the election process.
Political parties must ensure that their candidates are properly registered with the IEC.
For the ANC, problems with candidate registration could affect its election campaign in some areas.
Meanwhile, the party is also dealing with internal disagreements over candidate selection.
These disagreements could create further pressure on the ANC as the election campaign gets closer.
ANC faces pressure
The latest developments are putting pressure on the ANC leadership to provide answers.
Members will want to know what caused the registration problems.
Voters may also want clarity about which candidates will represent the party in their communities.
For now, the ANC must establish the facts before any conclusions are reached.
Mabuyane’s comments have added to the pressure for a full explanation.
The party will now have to deal with the candidate registration issue while preparing for the November elections.
