NORTH WEST – The ongoing process of selecting ANC North West councillor candidates ahead of the November local government elections has exposed heightened factional battles and internal divisions within the party. The candidate selection process has been marred by allegations of widespread irregularities, fraud, and interference from certain party leaders, threatening organizational unity just weeks before voters head to the polls.
According to the ANC provincial leadership, the Ngaka Modiri Molema region has numerous outstanding branches that have yet to select candidates, while three other regions are left with very few branches to finalize. The party’s Provincial Disputes Resolution Committee has already dealt with almost 200 disputes since the selection process began a few weeks ago.
Tensions are reportedly driven by two main factions within the provincial party: the N12 faction, led by ANC North West Provincial Chairperson Nono Maloyi, and the M26 faction, led by Deputy Provincial Chairperson and Premier Lazarus Mokgosi. Dissatisfied ANC members have accused some regional and provincial leaders of imposing their own preferred candidates, overriding those legitimately chosen by local communities and branches.
Growing frustration among grassroots members has led to warnings of electoral backlash. Some members have vowed to undermine the party’s electoral efforts on November 4 if the manipulation continues. Allegations have surfaced that certain leadership figures are altering candidate lists after they have been officially submitted to the African National Congress offices, a practice attributed to factional maneuvering.
In response, the ANC in North West has issued a stern warning to those disregarding guidelines and attempting to rig the process to impose their candidates. Provincial leadership emphasized that while the party may be methodical, it will decisively deal with those found wanting, stating that corrupt individuals will not be allowed to mar the process. The party committed to investigating these issues branch by branch and ward by ward to ensure a fair campaign environment and protect the ANC’s reputation.
The internal strife has also turned violent. The chairperson of the ANC Youth League in the Ngaka Modiri Molema region was recently assaulted and injured during a candidate selection meeting in Mahikeng. The Youth League chairperson alleged that certain ANC leaders are hiring individuals to attack dissenting members and disrupt public ANC meetings. The chairperson highlighted that attackers are armed with knives and other serious weapons, claiming that corrupt leaders are using looted funds to finance these assaults and silence those who expose the irregularities, thereby putting members’ lives under direct threat.
Concluding the matter, the ANC Provincial Executive Committee has vowed that all candidates who are not properly elected through legitimate democratic processes will be removed from the final candidate list before the November elections.
