Statement by the ANC Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte on councillor candidates registration for the 2021
22 September 2021
The African National Congress (ANC) has successfully completed the process of registering all its councillor candidates for local government elections that are scheduled to take place on 1 November 2021. We can confirm that all our candidates were registered with the Independent Electoral Commission on 21 September 2021. The ANC will be represented in all wards across the country. ANC candidates, selected with the support of communities, will contest in 4 468 out of 4 468 wards in 257 metros, local and district municipalities across the length and the breadth of the country.
NON-SEXIST COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETY
46% of ANC ward and proportional representation (PR) candidates are women. Although women candidates are mainly found on our PR lists, the ANC is proud of the women who gained the confidence of their communities to be selected as ward candidates. In the year in which we celebrate 150 years of Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke it is encouraging that women are being affirmed in this manner. Nonetheless, a lot of work lies ahead of us for the spectre of patriarchy to be eradicated in our society.
Our candidates also reflect the diversity of our communities, with representatives of people with disabilities, the LGBTQI community and community builders. This is a practical demonstration of our firm commitment to a non-sexist society.
YOUTH REPRESENTATION
Our youngest candidates are 20 years old, contesting in Buffalo City, Johannesburg and in Kouga municipality in the E Cape. When we look at the median age of our candidates, we find that 25% of our candidates are young people. This demonstrates our confidence in the future and the capacity of young people.
EMBEDDING DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE WITHIN THE ANC
For the first time in the history of South African elections, a political party embarked on a form of primary elections as an internal democratic mechanism, with its candidates selected not only by its own members, but also by the broader community before they were finalised. As a new process, this was quite tumultuous, but we are confident that this new ANC process of selecting local candidates is the best process to ensure community participation and input. It ensures that those who emerge as ANC candidates are rooted in their own communities and enjoy their confidence. We believe that this a true exponent of the Freedom Charter principle: "The People Shall Govern". There are many lessons that we have drawn from this process. We remain painfully aware that, within our own ranks, there were few people who were determined to subvert and undermine ANC rules and guidelines. The National Executive Committee and the Electoral Committee take a dim view of alleged attempts by some within our ranks to manipulate the process. In this regard, the ANC will implement the recommendations of the Electoral Committee to ensure that that these un-ANC tendencies do not recur.
All leaders and members of the ANC carry a responsibility to safeguard the credibility and integrity of our internal democratic processes. We wish to assure our members that any deviation from the rules and guidelines which materially affected the nomination of some candidates, will not be left unattended, even beyond the 1st of November 2021.
The overwhelming positive lesson was that when given an opportunity to participate, communities have responded. We will however take action in the few instances where internal processes were not complied with, and the Motlanthe Electoral Committee will after elections further investigate and make recommendations on corrective measures.
A COMMITMENT TO SERVE
We are confident that in the ANC candidates, we have men and women, young and old. workers and professionals. who are committed to work tirelessly to better their communities.
Now more than ever the words of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke about selfless community service could not ring any truer, "This work is not for yourself. kill that spirit of self and do not live above people, but live with them and if you can rise bring some one with you."
The call to action now for all our members, volunteers and supporters is to work tirelessly towards an overwhelming victory for the ANC.
Issued by Pule Mabe, National Spokesperson, ANC, 22 September 2021All councillor candidates registered – ANC
Party says these candidates will contest in all wards in 257 metros
Statement by the ANC Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte on councillor candidates registration for the 2021
22 September 2021
The African National Congress (ANC) has successfully completed the process of registering all its councillor candidates for local government elections that are scheduled to take place on 1 November 2021. We can confirm that all our candidates were registered with the Independent Electoral Commission on 21 September 2021. The ANC will be represented in all wards across the country. ANC candidates, selected with the support of communities, will contest in 4 468 out of 4 468 wards in 257 metros, local and district municipalities across the length and the breadth of the country.
NON-SEXIST COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETY
46% of ANC ward and proportional representation (PR) candidates are women. Although women candidates are mainly found on our PR lists, the ANC is proud of the women who gained the confidence of their communities to be selected as ward candidates. In the year in which we celebrate 150 years of Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke it is encouraging that women are being affirmed in this manner. Nonetheless, a lot of work lies ahead of us for the spectre of patriarchy to be eradicated in our society.
Our candidates also reflect the diversity of our communities, with representatives of people with disabilities, the LGBTQI community and community builders. This is a practical demonstration of our firm commitment to a non-sexist society.
YOUTH REPRESENTATION
Our youngest candidates are 20 years old, contesting in Buffalo City, Johannesburg and in Kouga municipality in the E Cape. When we look at the median age of our candidates, we find that 25% of our candidates are young people. This demonstrates our confidence in the future and the capacity of young people.
EMBEDDING DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE WITHIN THE ANC
For the first time in the history of South African elections, a political party embarked on a form of primary elections as an internal democratic mechanism, with its candidates selected not only by its own members, but also by the broader community before they were finalised. As a new process, this was quite tumultuous, but we are confident that this new ANC process of selecting local candidates is the best process to ensure community participation and input. It ensures that those who emerge as ANC candidates are rooted in their own communities and enjoy their confidence. We believe that this a true exponent of the Freedom Charter principle: "The People Shall Govern". There are many lessons that we have drawn from this process. We remain painfully aware that, within our own ranks, there were few people who were determined to subvert and undermine ANC rules and guidelines. The National Executive Committee and the Electoral Committee take a dim view of alleged attempts by some within our ranks to manipulate the process. In this regard, the ANC will implement the recommendations of the Electoral Committee to ensure that that these un-ANC tendencies do not recur.
All leaders and members of the ANC carry a responsibility to safeguard the credibility and integrity of our internal democratic processes. We wish to assure our members that any deviation from the rules and guidelines which materially affected the nomination of some candidates, will not be left unattended, even beyond the 1st of November 2021.
The overwhelming positive lesson was that when given an opportunity to participate, communities have responded. We will however take action in the few instances where internal processes were not complied with, and the Motlanthe Electoral Committee will after elections further investigate and make recommendations on corrective measures.
A COMMITMENT TO SERVE
We are confident that in the ANC candidates, we have men and women, young and old. workers and professionals. who are committed to work tirelessly to better their communities.
Now more than ever the words of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke about selfless community service could not ring any truer, "This work is not for yourself. kill that spirit of self and do not live above people, but live with them and if you can rise bring some one with you."
The call to action now for all our members, volunteers and supporters is to work tirelessly towards an overwhelming victory for the ANC.
Issued by Pule Mabe, National Spokesperson, ANC, 22 September 2021
