The African National Congress (ANC) has set a strict criteria for the selection of candidates in the coming municipal elections.
According to the approved ANC Candidate Selection Rules, Guidelines and Procedures released in November, the minimum requirement to qualify is matric qualification and/or have the capacity, experience, education or expertise that will enable them to make a constructive contribution within the municipal council.
“The requirement for a matric qualification may be waived by the Electoral Committee under exceptional circumstances,” chairperson of the ANC Electoral Committee, Kgalema Motlanthe said.
The selection for candidates was opened from April 1 and would be concluded on June 20
In line with the selection producers and guidelines, all candidates must have personally or virtually attended and completed the four OR Tambo Leadership School online modules before being registered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
All candidates must be ANC members in good standing at the time of nomination to the IEC.
Candidates must possess a proven track record of commitment to and involvement in the democratic movement and/or government, have no criminal record or criminal charges brought by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). (this excludes political-related crimes committed before April 1994). Private prosecutions are excluded unless these result in criminal convictions by the courts of law.
Motlanthe said no candidate shall be eligible for nomination if he/she has been found guilty by a disciplinary committee for contravening the ANC code of conduct, and had their membership suspended for any period in the last ten years.
“This rule applies also where a member is awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing or an appeal,” he said.
Candidates must agree to sign the deployment contracts which bind them to be loyal to the decisions of the ANC including redeployment and recall as the circumstances such as performance or lack thereof may dictate from time to time.
The party said for continuity and government experience, at least 70 percent of the candidates must have previous experience in any sphere of government, as successful and effective public representatives, members of the executive, or as officials employed in government, any time in the last 31 years.
“This does not mean retaining 70 percent of current councillors. It means casting the net as widely as possible to find all the best talent we have deployed over the years in all parts of government.”
The executive mayors of all the metropolitan municipalities and secondary cities shall be appointed exclusively by the national officials taking into consideration the issue of gender representation at all levels.
All candidates to be considered for the positions of mayors, speakers and chief whips must possess tertiary qualification from an accredited Institution and at least three years’ experience as a Member of Parliament, Member of the Provincial Legislature or councillor.
For all local and district mayoral positions the regional executive committee, shall recommend three candidates per municipality to the provincial officials from amongst the nominated councillor candidates.
No candidate who has served two consecutive full terms as a mayor may be considered for a third term in line with the Municipal Structures Act.
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