By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

Fikile Mbalula who serves as the Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC) has expressed that they will carefully select a group of people that will represent the party in next year’s upcoming municipal elections. Mbalula had held a press briefing of the National Executive Committee (NEC) which was held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.

“Our process is clear and uncompromising, candidates must emerge from community consultations, undergo vigorous vetting and be assessed not by factional loyalty, but by their integrity.” said Mbalula at the press briefing.

The NEC serves as the highest decision making body of the ANC as it provides overall direction and leadership to the party and will finalise its process of choosing the cadre as the local elections draw closer.

 Mbalula has expressed that the mandate of the ANC is to restore faith among communities in regards to the party and to choose leaders who will remain accountable.

Since the ANC came into power post-apartheid, the lack of service delivery, high unemployment rates and corruption have tarnished the reputation of the party that has a history of fighting for the people.

Mbalula says the ANC is committed to rectifying this perception by choosing to not select inept leaders in power any longer.

 Mbalula stated that the ANC in the upcoming weeks will announce the interventions that the party will make which may include removing any councillors or mayors who are not performing their duties up to standard.

 In recent years most notably in the national elections of 2024 saw support of the ANC dwindle drastically for the first time in three decades as they lost majority parliamentary membership and the government converting to the Government of National Unity (GNU) a coalition government which has sparked ever rising tensions between the ANC and Democratic Alliance (DA).

 Mbalula also shared that Brown Mogotsi, a controversial businessman who allegedly solicited money from crime cartels, using his ties with the ANC, had reached out to him.

Mbalula emphasised that Mogotsi is no longer a member of the ANC, stating that his membership has expired.

 “He even sent me a message here. I don’t know where he got my number. I don’t care. I won’t respond to him. He’s not a member of the ANC. He’s not. To answer your question, Brown Mogotsi is not a member of the ANC. It took me time to go to the records. I went to the branch, even the province. He’s not a member of the ANC. He’s just going up and down, perambulating among leaders in his proximity” said Mbalula.

 These allegations were heard by “The Madlanga Commission” which is currently on a break and will recommence on the 13th of October due to Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo falling ill.