The African National Congress (ANC) said it has adopted stricter rules and guidelines for selecting its representatives ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The party said that the updated criteria aim to improve the quality of leadership in municipalities and to ensure that councillors are better equipped to provide strategic direction and oversight.
Under the new requirements, prospective ANC candidates must have a matric certificate or demonstrate sufficient experience and capability to meaningfully contribute to municipal governance.
ANC Electoral Chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe said the changes are part of a broader effort to professionalise local government.
“The minimum qualification is now mandatory, and mayoral candidates for metros and secondary cities will be handled by the national officials. This is to ensure that they select people who bring expertise and the requisite qualifications to occupy those positions,” Motlanthe explained.
Public Policy and Governance Analyst Hlumelo Xaba noted that the move is welcomed but overdue.
“I think credit must be given where it’s due, and it’s something that is long overdue because the ANC is in charge of many municipalities. The public has been calling for capable deployments for a very long time. The ANC now requires councillors to have matric and mayors to hold tertiary qualifications, which is a step in the right direction. However, it may be a little too late for them, because these calls have always been there,” Xaba noted.
The IEC currently does not require formal qualifications for councillors beyond being a South African citizen aged 18 or older. The ANC says its internal standards are aimed at improving service delivery and restoring public confidence in local governance.
Listen to the full interview with Hlumelo Xaba below:
VOC News
Photo: @MYANC/X
