With just six weeks to go before South Africans head to the polls, the ANC has announced their mayoral candidates in different metros for the upcoming municipal elections which will be held on 3 August.
The ruling party announced Parks Tau as their mayoral candidate in Johannesburg, meaning that if the ANC wins the metro, Tau will stand for a second term. This is contrary to earlier reports that suggested that the party was, for the first time, going to nominate a woman to stand for mayoral candidacy.
It was popularly speculated that the current city council speaker, Conny Bapela stood a better chance to be the party’s mayoral candidate in Johannesburg.
The ANC’s announcement of mayoral candidates before elections happened for the first time this year. Secretary general of the party, Gwede Mantashe said this move was made so that candidates could assist in campaigning.
The DA wasted no time in criticising the ANC’s announcement. According to a statement released by the DA, Tau’s candidacy will see the unemployment rate in the city increase. “This decision shows that the ANC is not serious about creating jobs and bringing real change to the struggling people and stuttering economy of this city,” read part of the statement.
Read more:
Mashaba dismisses Mayor Tau’s address as ANC fairy tale
Special vote applications open
Mashaba tackles Tau on city’s drug problem
