POLOKWANE – The ANC’s decision to shortlist four candidates for the Polokwane mayoral position has intensified the race for control of the municipality, with the candidates publicly announced at the party’s 2026 Mayoral Candidate Announcement on Saturday, followed by the Local Government Elections Manifesto launch on Sunday, both in Gauteng.

Polokwane was the only municipality in Limpopo whose shortlisted mayoral candidates were announced at the event, where ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa was the keynote speaker.

The four candidates

Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula announced incumbent mayor John Mpe, Polokwane speaker Welhemina Modiba, regional executive member Matlala Pheedi and ANC member of parliament Soviet Lekganyane as the four shortlisted candidates.

The four are understood to have been interviewed in July at Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters.

The final mayoral candidate is expected to be announced in September, after the party opted to interview shortlisted nominees rather than immediately name a successful candidate.

A new selection process

Mbalula said the nominees formed part of the party’s “talent pool for public representatives in local government”, selected through branch nominations, background checks and ethical evaluations. The final decision will be made through the party’s leadership structures.

The interviews were conducted by panels established by the National Executive Committee and overseen by the electoral committee, chaired by former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe.

Mbalula said the process was intended to replace the traditional approach of simply announcing final candidates, with the aim of reducing factional contestation, guarding against slate voting, subjecting candidates to public scrutiny and formalising the selection process.

Polokwane’s economic importance

Mpe and Modiba joined Mbalula and Ramaphosa on stage when the Polokwane nominees were introduced. Pheedi and Lekganyane were absent when their names were called.

Political analyst Zachariah Moabelo told Polokwane Observer that the decision to single out Polokwane reflected the municipality’s economic and political importance to the ANC, which continues to hold a majority in the city.

“Elections are economic and Polokwane is the hub of the provincial economy. Losing Polokwane could cost them a lot,” Moabelo said.

Who has the strongest chance?

Moabelo believes Lekganyane has the strongest chance of being selected, saying he fits the ANC’s renewal agenda.

He questioned whether Mpe would return for another term, given his positions as ANC regional chairperson and deputy chairperson in Limpopo.

“The policies of the party mandate him to hold bigger political leadership in the province. For John Mpe to remain for another term, protocol simply does not allow,” he said.

ANC Limpopo secretary Reuben Madadzhe, however, said in July that the party was not bound by policy to remove Mpe from his municipal role because of his provincial leadership position.

Speculation and observations

Moabelo also interpreted Ramaphosa adjusting Mpe’s tie on stage as a possible sign of presidential support, while suggesting that Lekganyane’s absence could have been deliberate. These interpretations could not be independently confirmed.

He questioned why Capricorn Mayor and ANC Women’s League provincial chairperson Mamedupi Teffo, whom he said had strong support during the previous regional elections, was not among the nominees.

Final announcement expected in September

The ANC is expected to announce its final Polokwane mayoral candidate in September.