The African National Congress (ANC) has officially denounced the administrative mistakes that led to the omission of several of its candidates from the official registration lists for the upcoming elections.
Speaking during an extensive media conference, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula addressed the growing candidate registration scandal. Mbalula confirmed that the governing party has decided to take legal action and head directly to the Electoral Court to seek urgent relief for its omitted candidates.
The candidate registration crisis emerged after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) closed its official registration deadline. Following the cut off, it became clear that several ANC candidates across various municipalities and wards were left off the official lists due to technical glitches, system failures, and internal submission delays.
Mbalula explained that the party is taking full responsibility for addressing the situation, but insisted that the legal framework must allow every qualified candidate a fair opportunity to contest the elections.
Mbalula Denounces Administrative Omissions
During the packed press briefing, Mbalula expressed deep concern over the candidate omissions, describing them as an unfortunate administrative setback for the organization. He made it clear that the party is not brushing the issue under the carpet or blaming lower structures without taking decisive action.
The Secretary General stated that the ANC leadership carefully evaluated the registration process and identified multiple areas where errors occurred. In some instances, candidates were omitted due to electronic portal glitches during the final hours of the registration deadline. In other cases, human error and delays in uploading required documentation contributed to candidates missing the official submission cut.
Mbalula stressed that the party’s primary focus now is to ensure that no candidate or community is deprived of proper democratic representation because of technical or administrative blunders.
Heading to the Electoral Court for Remedy
To fix the registration mistakes, the ANC is turning to the highest legal authority on election matters in the country. Mbalula announced that the party has instructed its legal team to file an urgent application with the Electoral Court to challenge the exclusion of its affected candidates.
The party aims to convince the court to grant an order allowing the IEC to re-open its candidate submission portal temporarily or accept late candidate document submissions.
Mbalula argued that seeking a court remedy is a necessary step to protect the democratic rights of both the candidates and the voters who wish to elect them. He emphasized that the legal application is not designed solely to benefit the governing party, but to create a fair precedent for all political parties facing similar administrative challenges.
A Shared Struggle for Other Political Parties
Highlighting the scope of the problem, Mbalula noted that the ANC is not the only political organization caught in the candidate registration trap. Several other political parties and independent candidates across South Africa experienced similar technical difficulties and administrative hurdles while trying to submit their final candidate lists before the IEC deadline.
Mbalula stated that the ANC’s legal approach to the Electoral Court would serve as a remedy not only for its own affected candidates, but also for other political parties in the same situation.
By pushing for a legal resolution, the ANC hopes the court will provide a blanket directive that allows all affected political entities and independent contenders to rectify their registration files before ballots are printed.
Internal Accountability and the Road Ahead
While the party prepares its legal case for the Electoral Court, Mbalula acknowledged that internal party processes must also address how the omissions happened in the first place.
He reassured party members and supporters that the ANC will conduct a thorough internal review of its election management systems once the legal process is resolved. Officials responsible for negligence or failing to submit candidate packages on time will face internal party accountability measures.
However, the immediate priority for Luthuli House remains the legal battle to get every ANC candidate back on the ballot. With the election date fast approaching, time is of the essence for the party’s legal team.
Mbalula concluded the media briefing by calling on ANC members, activists, and supporters to remain calm, united, and focused on voter mobilization while the courts consider the party’s application. He expressed confidence that the Electoral Court will deliver a fair ruling that safeguards democratic participation and ensures a smooth, inclusive election process for all South Africans.