Community outrage over ANC's ward candidate selection in Khayelitsha

Residents in Ward 98, Khayelitsha, took to the streets this week, accusing the ANC of ignoring community voices in its ward councillor candidate selection process.

Residents in Khayelitsha and Samora Machel protested this week against the ANC's ward candidate selection process, claiming it ignores community input.

In Ward 98, they accused long-serving councillor Anele Gabuza of overseeing an unfair selection process after more than 10 years in office.

Residents allege that they had supported another candidate, Yanga Mjingwana, during a community process, but that their preferred choice was not respected. In videos shared on social media, residents can be seen protesting and chanting Mjingwana’s name in the streets.

They further claim that after an initial voting process, another session was called and that the presence of police and private security reportedly created an atmosphere of intimidation.

Residents say they have held protests, meetings, and community gatherings in an effort to have their concerns heard, but believe their grievances have not been properly addressed.

Mjingwana declined to comment on the matter, saying he was currently following the internal processes of the ANC and was not in a position to comment at this stage.

The dispute in Ward 98 comes as residents in Ward 33, Samora Machel, also marched on Saturday to the community hall, where the ward councillor’s office is situated.

According to a notice shared with the media, the Ward 33 march was over what residents described as unfair ANC candidate selection processes in the area.

The residents said they supported the current ward councillor, Lungisa Somdaka, but claimed the ANC had accepted the nomination of former ward councillor Sithembiso Mzobe, whom they accused of having failed the community during his previous term.

They also alleged that Mzobe does not have a matric qualification, despite ANC candidate guidelines requiring candidates to have at least Grade 12.

Residents said they wanted to challenge the process and the party’s guidelines, arguing that the community’s preferred candidate should not be overlooked in favour of a former councillor they believe did not serve the area well.

Ward 98 residents in Khayelitsha protested on Thursday evening over what they described as an unfair ANC ward candidate selection process. Residents say their preferred candidate has not been recognised despite community support.

ANC Western Cape spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni said the party had adopted candidate selection guidelines that governed the current councillor nomination processes.

Mtsweni said the guidelines prescribed three processes to be followed.

"The first process is that wards, where the ANC has active branches, must convene Branch General Meetings (BGMs), which select four candidates democratically. These candidates are then presented to the community through community meetings," he said.

He said communities were then allowed to screen the candidates, interrogate their bona fides, and assess whether they were popular within those communities.

However, Mtsweni stressed that the community’s preferred choice was not the final step in the process.

According to Mtsweni, the List Committee considers factors including academic background, with a minimum requirement of Grade 12, experience in local government, years of service, integrity and whether a candidate has pending criminal charges or convictions.

"Once all of these are considered, the ANC will then endorse a candidate for election," he said.

On the complaints in Ward 98, Mtsweni said the party had not received a formal dispute from the area.

He said the party could not make a determination on the allegations because no formal dispute had been lodged and no hearing had taken place.

"We do not have any facts before us to make a determination as no formal dispute has been lodged nor hearing that took place." 

Mtsweni said residents or members who felt aggrieved by the process were entitled to use the ANC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

Gabuza and Mzobe had not responded to questions by the time of publication.