PRETORIA, Gauteng — Afrika Mayibuye Movement (AMM) leader Floyd Shivambu has welcomed the recent Constitutional Court ruling regarding the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) candidate exclusions, emphasizing that the dispute extended far beyond the African National Congress (ANC) and threatened democratic participation ahead of the 2026 local elections.
The apex court recently upheld an appeal by the ANC, overturning an Electoral Court decision and ordering the IEC to include 181 ANC candidates and reprint ballot papers for six municipalities. Following the intense legal battle, the ANC confirmed that Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, who fell unwell yesterday, is in good spirits and steadily regaining his strength.
However, Shivambu argues that the candidate exclusion crisis was a systemic issue affecting numerous political parties, not just the ANC.
A “Cumbersome” Electoral Process
Speaking on the matter, Shivambu detailed the technical hurdles that led to the mass exclusion of parties. He described the IEC’s digital submission portal as excessively cumbersome, noting that parties were required to make 257 separate “final submit” clicks for municipalities and an additional 4,488 clicks for individual wards. Furthermore, the system utilized a confusing two-panel verification process.
Shivambu argued that the IEC was problematic in its approach, waiting until the August 28 deadline to penalize parties rather than proactively reminding them in the days and hours leading up to the cutoff that their information was uploaded but not finally submitted.
“To disenfranchise hundreds of thousands, actually millions of people, because of a technicality which could have been remedied if the IEC was proactive is undemocratic,” Shivambu stated. He noted that Afrika Mayibuye took a principled stand, writing to the IEC, the Electoral Court, and the Constitutional Court to argue that excluding willing and registered parties would violate the foundational will of the people.
Dismissing critics who argue the ruling encourages non-compliance, Shivambu maintained that the Constitutional Court was entirely correct and that the IEC was conclusively wrong in its dismissive approach to parties that had paid their fees, completed community selection processes, and uploaded their documents.
2026 Elections to Proceed as Scheduled
Addressing concerns about the election timetable, Shivambu confirmed that the 2026 local government elections will not be postponed and will proceed on November 4, 2026. He noted that the IEC chairperson confirmed ballot printing had not yet begun for the six affected municipalities in anticipation of the court’s judgment. He suggested the IEC should have halted all ballot printing until a conclusive Constitutional Court directive was issued, ensuring that similarly affected parties across the country could be included without disrupting the national schedule.
Grassroots Candidate Selection and Election Readiness
As a first-time participant in local elections, Afrika Mayibuye Movement is contesting in over 4,300 wards across all provinces, districts, and metropolitan municipalities. Shivambu outlined the party’s rigorous, community-driven candidate selection process.
Rather than imposing candidates from the top down, the party relied on community nominations. In areas under traditional and royal leadership, the party coordinated with traditional councils to select leaders who would not conflict with local governance structures. In townships and other areas, candidates were required to have the endorsement of local institutions, such as churches or community groups, ensuring they are recognized grassroots leaders.
Stance on Immigration and Asylum Reforms
Shivambu also addressed the highly contested issue of immigration, distinguishing between genuine asylum seekers and the broader reality of undocumented migration. He asserted that 99% of immigrants in South Africa are socio-economic migrants rather than individuals fleeing war zones.
While condemning the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in Durban and Johannesburg to manage recent protests, Shivambu called for comprehensive asylum reforms. He acknowledged that an estimated 3 million undocumented immigrants pose significant security and socio-economic risks, threatening proper planning for job creation. He urged the government to address the issue on principle, condemning other political parties for using immigration merely as an opportunistic electoral tool.
Addressing Recent Violence in Katlehong
Finally, Shivambu addressed the recent tragic shootings at a memorial service in Katlehong, where individuals firing guns into the air resulted in fatalities and injuries. An arrested suspect, John Sibeko, was linked to Afrika Mayibuye through unverified social media videos.
Shivambu clarified that Sibeko had resigned from the party in July 2026 to focus on his private security business. He emphasized that if Sibeko’s membership had not already lapsed, it would be immediately terminated.
“We do not associate with people who play with guns,” Shivambu said, condemning the reckless discharge of firearms. He dismissed attempts by rival political parties to politicize the incident as a “political killing,” describing it instead as the tragic wrongdoing of excited individuals that has no connection to Afrika Mayibuye, which he described as an organization of peace focused on jobs, water, and service delivery.
