ANC ward candidate selection controversy

Gate keeping, intimidation and nepotism have been reported as the key tools used by ANC councillors who do not want to step down. While these allegations have not been proven, the belief that the election process is being manipulated has caused three protests within three months, as residents of Shaka’s Head, Isithebe and Driefontein claimed they were fed up with their councillors.

On paper the ANC has a clear nomination of candidates’ selection processes. But ANC loyal residents are claiming their requests are not being heard leaving them with “no choice” but to take to the streets in protest.

On February 22, Shakas Head residents closed the N2 and R102 with burning tyres and burnt ward four councillor Jetro Banda‘s house and car. On March 7, Isithebe residents’ in Mandeni protested, burning factories and blocking roads. Their chief complaint was the issue of Bheki Magwaza, an ex-mayor of Mandeni, reappearing as one of the candidates for the councillors seat of Isithebe. On March 19, residents of Driefontein also took to toyi-toying, because they say they are unhappy with their councillor, Mzwayi Mdluli, and the four candidates nominated by the ANC for the council seat in the forthcoming local government elections.

There are five key processes in selecting ward candidates, according to the ANC party website. First, candidates must be nominated by party members at a branch meeting. They are then screened and short-listed by the screening committee. A community meeting must then be held, where the shortlisted candidates answer questions from the community. The selection committee then makes their choice, taking into consideration the number of votes received by each candidate at a branch meeting and the response from the community.

However, some Shaka’s Head and Driefontein residents claim councillors ensure that only people who are loyal to them get ANC membership cards, and so they are assured of unwavering support at the branch meeting.They then persuade these people to go out and encourage people to vote for them at a public meeting. The councillors have also been accused of strategically helping those in need of assistance to find a job, food or houses with the requirement of getting that favour returned.

Shaka’s Head resident, Thulani Mthethwa said he believes that councillors should serve only one term.

“I think a councillor should serve a second term only on community request. They should also have someone that they report to in their wards. They have been given a lot of power over the people,” said Mthethwa.

During the recent protests, the ANC KwaDukuza region did not acknowledge that the selection process could be at the root of the problem. They blamed a ‘third force’ for orchestrating the protests. They also did not respond to the Courier’s requests for clarification of their selection process.

Meanwhile other parties like the Democratic Alliance, National Freedom Party and African Christian Democratic party follow different processes of electing their candidates. DA candidates apply to be a councillor and the party uses scoring points to elect. They are called to an interview and are judged based on their responses to the questions and the work they do for the party. For the NFP, only the members of the party vote for their favourite candidate and whoever wins at that meeting, climbs the poles. In the ACDP, any Christian person can apply to be a candidate. There are requirements that a person must meet, then the candidate will be interviewed by a guardian committee. There is a criteria listing process and finally a popular voting process.

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