By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

The municipal election campaigns have intensified as the ANC have cultivated their short list for mayoral candidates for Johannesburg. In the front running is Frank Chikane, who serves as the Chair for the ANC’s Integrity commission.

Chikane has been heavily endorsed by the ANC’s Veteran League, as well as the former Gauteng Premier, David Makhura and the current Johannesburg Deputy Mayor, Loyiso Masuku. Makhura has been heavily encouraged to be in the front lines of ANC’s Johannesburg Mayoral campaign as he also heads ANC Political Education and also leads the OR Tambo School of Leadership.

 Masuku is seen as someone who holds the heavy support of this region for the ANC however she is associated with a failed state of Johannesburg that was headed by the ANC.

She serves as the political head of finance however Johannesburg’s latest R89 billion budget that was passed in May is being regarded as unfunded despite being greenlit by the National Treasury due to high tariff increases as well as high revenue collection promises.

Masuku also has support from the party due to the ANC committing itself to a “zebra principle” of gendered representation which means; one man and one woman across all levels of the party’s list.

Makhura has garnered support from the party’s renewal faction which is currently led by Cyril Ramaphosa. The ANC Johannesburg administration only retained their position due to factionalism, it also suffered a heavy loss in the 2024 national election, as the party’s numbers went down from 50.19% to 34.76% in 2024.

Gauteng used to be considered a heavy stronghold for the ANC, and now the ANC in Gauteng is being heralded by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who plays a vital role in the selection of ANC’s Johannesburg Mayoral candidate.

Sources have suggested that Mashatile is leaning towards Masuku along with Lebogang Maile, who serves as provincial executive.