The Johannesburg High Court will decide whether the African National Congress (ANC) can exclude its National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Andile Lungisa, from its candidate list for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the upcoming local government elections. Lungisa has taken the ANC, its NEC, and secretary-general to court, challenging the party's decision to bar him from standing as a candidate. The ANC cited a criminal conviction and sentence as the reason for Lungisa's exclusion.
According to the ANC, Lungisa was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 24 months in prison for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. This conviction arose from a chaotic council meeting at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in 2016, during which Lungisa smashed a glass water jug over Rayno Kayser, a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor. The ANC stated that its vetting process found adverse information against Lungisa, which led to his exclusion from the candidate list.
The ANC emphasized that membership in the party, including service in one of its structures, does not guarantee a position in public office. The party stated that deployment is not an entitlement, and every person seeking to stand under its banner in an election must undergo its vetting process without exception. The outcome of this vetting process contains findings that place Lungisa outside the criteria adopted by the NEC for all candidate nominees.
Lungisa's exclusion from the candidate list comes as the ANC faces challenges in several municipalities. The party is at risk of losing control of six municipalities across the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape, where it failed to submit proportional representative lists. The ANC is seeking to clarify the circumstances surrounding the dispute that played out in the Johannesburg High Court regarding Lungisa's exclusion.
The matter has now been escalated to the apex court, with the Johannesburg High Court set to make a decision on whether the ANC can bar Lungisa from standing as a candidate. The court's decision will have implications for the ANC's candidate list and its chances in the local government elections. The elections are set to take place on November 4.
The ANC's decision to exclude Lungisa from its candidate list is not an isolated incident. The party has been facing internal disputes and challenges in recent months, with several members and leaders expressing concerns about the party's direction and leadership. The exclusion of Lungisa has sparked debate within the party and among its supporters.
The Johannesburg High Court's decision on Lungisa's exclusion will be closely watched by ANC supporters and opponents alike. The outcome will provide insight into the party's internal dynamics and its approach to candidate selection. The ANC's leadership and NEC will be under scrutiny as they navigate the challenges facing the party in the lead-up to the local government elections.
Key points
- The Johannesburg High Court will decide whether the ANC can exclude Andile Lungisa from its candidate list due to a criminal conviction and sentence.
- The ANC cited a 2018 conviction and 24-month prison sentence for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm as the reason for Lungisa's exclusion.
- The party's decision to exclude Lungisa has implications for its candidate list and chances in the local government elections.
