The African National Congress (ANC) will mark two key milestones this weekend as it steps up preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The governing party will officially announce its mayoral candidates at an event in Sandton on Saturday, before launching its 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto in Riverside, Johannesburg, on Sunday.
The mayoral candidate announcement is expected to introduce the men and women who will carry the ANC’s mandate of building capable, accountable and responsive local government.
Newsnote understands that the ANC Johannesburg Regional Executive Committee (REC) has resolved to submit the names of Loyiso Masuku, Makhosi Ndlela and Jabu Moleketi to the party’s national leadership for consideration as mayoral candidates.
Masuku is Johannesburg’s deputy mayor, while Ndlela is the ANC’s deputy chief whip in the City of Johannesburg and chairs the Section 79 Committee on Transport. Moleketi is a former deputy finance minister.
The REC had initially resolved to nominate Masuku and provided regional office bearers with four additional names for consideration: former Operation Dudula leader Nhlanhla Lux, business executive Chichi Maponya, Reverend Frank Chikane and Moleketi.
Chikane previously served as Director-General in the Presidency under former President Thabo Mbeki and is also a member of the ANC’s Integrity Commission.
Nhlanhla Lux is the former leader of the anti-immigration group Operation Dudula, while Maponya is a prominent businesswoman, corporate executive and chairperson of the Maponya Group.
The ANC says the mayoral candidate announcement forms part of its commitment to presenting communities with leadership that is ready to serve, rebuild public confidence and accelerate service delivery.
The following day, the party will launch its 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto at Diepsloot, Riverside.
The ANC says the manifesto has been informed by extensive consultations with communities, an assessment of the implementation of its 2021 Local Government Elections Manifesto and its vision to strengthen local government and improve the quality of life of South Africans.
The two events are expected to set the tone for the ANC’s campaign ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, as the party seeks to regain support and strengthen its position in municipalities across the country.
