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ANC candidate nomination legal disputes

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2026-10-15 21:41 UTC → 2026-10-25 23:28 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The African National Congress (ANC) has faced multiple legal challenges regarding its candidate nomination processes for the 2026 local government elections. In the Eastern Cape, the Makhanda High Court dismissed an urgent application by party members who sought to nullify councillor and mayoral candidate lists. The applicants alleged that nomination processes were manipulated and that leadership violated selection rules. Justice Motilal Rugunanan ruled that the applicants failed to provide a basis for judicial interference in the party’s internal affairs. Concurrently, the ANC escalated a dispute to the Constitutional Court against the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) regarding the disqualification of 181 candidates across six municipalities. The exclusion occurred after the party failed to meet a deadline on the IEC’s Online Candidate Nomination System (OCNS). During proceedings, IEC representative Advocate Terry Motau argued that the ANC cannot “selectively challenge the system’s requirements,” noting the party has long benefited from non-prescribed electronic features like digital document uploads. Following deliberations on whether the IEC has the authority to enforce operational requirements not explicitly stated in legislation, the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the ANC. Justice Rammaka Mathopo directed the IEC to include the party’s ward candidate nominations on the ballot papers for the November 4 elections. While the IEC stated it will comply with its constitutional obligation, the ruling drew criticism from the Democratic Alliance (DA). Helen Zille expressed concern that the decision “undermines the requirement for strict compliance with electoral rules.” Following the court ruling, the MK Party condemned the IEC after its own request to amend candidate lists—to rectify ward placements and replace deceased candidates—was rejected. The IEC maintained that the Constitutional Court’s decision regarding the ANC did not reopen the nomination process beyond restoring nominations already captured on the system before the deadline.

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