With local government elections fast approaching, the ANC in the Western Cape is only now getting around to winnowing mayoral candidate shortlists — cutting it fine in a province where its support is tanking.
The party, which lost its outright majority in the province in 2009 and has failed to reclaim it since, will meet on Wednesday to discuss the lists of names submitted by its regions.
At the meeting, the provincial task team can either rubber-stamp the three-name lists sent by the regions, make one or two changes, or overhaul them completely.
The task team’s final lists will then go to the national party structures, which will whittle each down to a single candidate to stand per municipality in the elections.
The elections are scheduled for November 4, 2026.
The Dullah Omar region, IOL understands, has put forward the following names for mayoral consideration:
• Ndithini Thydo, metro regional chair and the ANC’s opposition leader in the City of Cape Town council;
• Mareldia Chouglay, regional deputy secretary, former civil servant and gender activist; and
• Zelda Tarentaal, ANC Women’s League metro leader and schoolteacher.
A fourth name, Jerimia Thynsman, has been mentioned in party circles but is not part of the official shortlist submitted for approval.
Party insiders said the list was finalised last week ahead of Wednesday’s provincial meeting.
“The PTT will have the option to change the list or add to it,” one source said.
“I personally think the two women on the list are safe, but we’ll see what happens.
“It is going to be interesting to watch.”
In Drakenstein, the names under consideration are Dan Kotze, Lumka Taboer and Dolly Peter.
Kotzé is a long-serving ANC councillor in the municipality and part of the party’s caucus leadership.
Taboer is active in regional party structures and internal coordination work, while Peter is known for her community-based political work in the area.
The province will also consider Stellenbosch’s three-name shortlist.
It is unclear who is on this list.
In the Garden Route, George’s shortlist under the Victor Molosi region has also been submitted as well as Saldanha Bay on the West Coast.
The party’s spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni is among the strong contenders.
In Theewaterskloof, Overberg, IOL understands the names under consideration include:
• Derick Appel, a municipal councillor;
•Bongiwe Mkhwibiso, the party’s chief whip in council; and
•Unathi Spunzi, a regional figure involved in party organisation and community work.
Provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni confirmed the meeting will take place on Wednesday.
He said the ANC is running a “strategic process” to select mayoral candidates for key municipalities, including the City of Cape Town.
“Regions have been asked to submit names for consideration,” he said.
“Candidates must have post-matric qualifications, and at least two of the three names submitted per region must be women.”
He said the party has also consulted local communities on the shortlist.
“Tomorrow [Wednesday] the provincial working committee will meet first to process all the names submitted, and then forward them to the provincial task team,” he said.
He said once the task team finalises three candidates per municipality, those lists will go to the ANC’s national office.
The national office will then interview the candidates and choose one to stand for each municipality.
For municipalities not on the key list, Mtsweni said the provincial party will make the selections directly.
Political analyst Zweli Ndevu said the party is split into rival factions.
“You would expect the ANC to start preparing early with local government elections coming up,” he said.
“But the party is moving cautiously because of internal contestation.
“There are well-known factions inside the ANC, and these groups tend to fight hard over positions.
“To avoid deepening those divisions, the leadership is holding back and taking a careful approach.”
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Brandon Nel
iol.co.za