EKURHULENI — ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading the African National Congress (ANC) campaign trail for the 2026 Municipal Polls in Ekurhuleni, addressing both local service delivery successes and ongoing technical glitches regarding candidate list submissions.
During an impromptu media briefing, spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu noted that the campaign activities included door-to-door visits and a planned community meeting, though heavy rain interfered with the schedule. President Ramaphosa embraced the weather, describing the rain as a “blessing” and the beginning of spring. “When it rains, the ANC does well,” Ramaphosa stated, expressing optimism that it signals the beginning of a very good campaign for the party.
Reflecting on his morning consultations in Tembisa, Ramaphosa highlighted that residents have maintained a high payment rate for municipal rates and electricity. He noted that community members expressed strong satisfaction with local service delivery, specifically citing efficient refuse removal and well-maintained roads. However, he acknowledged that unemployment remains the primary challenge for the community, a critical issue the party is actively working to address.
Addressing questions about the ANC’s failure to submit candidate lists in certain regions, including KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and the Eastern Cape, Ramaphosa attributed the issue to technical glitches with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) interface system. He emphasized that the problem was not isolated to the ANC, affecting approximately 34 other political parties, and stressed that technical glitches should not deprive citizens of their right to vote for their chosen candidates.
When questioned about the filing blunder by spokesperson Cam Lok, Ramaphosa downplayed the severity of the situation. He described the current error as limited, containable, and manageable compared to previous election cycles, despite the party processing well over 10,000 candidates nationwide.
Regarding the path forward, Ramaphosa confirmed that multiple options are being explored to resolve the dispute. These include engaging directly with the IEC, consulting the political party liaison committee, or approaching the electoral court as a specialist institution mandated to handle such disputes. He expressed certainty that a solution will be found soon.
On the highly anticipated announcement of the party’s mayoral candidates, Ramaphosa deferred the reveal. Advising the public to stay tuned, he reiterated his previous statement to “watch this space” for official updates in September.
