Some communities where the ANC could not register its candidates for the municipal elections have expressed mixed views on the party's election gaffe with others describing it as “good riddance”.
In Gauteng, the party reportedly did not register candidates in 43 wards, including in Mapetla in Soweto, Lenasia, and Tshepisong on the West Rand.
The party also could not register candidates in Tshwane and Merafong after what it said were “technical problems” suffered in the final hours before the deadline for registration of candidates for the local government elections.
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Tshepisong resident in ward 28, Thabo Mtshali, said the failure by the ANC to register its candidates on time was welcome. ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte said last week that voters in about 30 municipalities will not be able to vote for an ANC candidate, unless the system was reopened to allow it to make the necessary corrections.
The party is now pinning its hopes on the electoral court finding in its favour in a bid to force the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) to reopen the candidate list process.
Mtshali said for more than 20 years ANC councillors had failed to develop the township and that projects were marred by corruption.
Another resident, Lerato Dipudi, said not having ANC candidates in the local government elections made no difference to her.
“I do not care whether they make it to a ballot paper or not,” Dipudi said.
But Simphiwe Khambule was disturbed when he learnt that an ANC candidate may not be on the ballot paper.
“There is no need for me to go and vote if the ANC does not have its candidate. What will I be voting for? If there is no ANC what is the point of voting? They must make a plan. There can't be elections without the ANC. I do not see myself voting for another party. If the ANC is not there, I will just sit at home,” Khambule said.
Simphiwe Mbonde said the problem of not registering candidates was an indicator that there is a crisis at national level for the party.
Zama Nqayi, convener of the local ANC branch task team, said the structure submitted all its four candidates by August 10. Nqayi said he was not aware of any problems that had been experienced by the party in the submission of candidates.
“All we are waiting for is the response... to inform us who succeeded and who did not make it and the reason,” Nqayi said.
In ward 127, a resident who only gave his name as Alex said he loved the ANC but it has failed him and not seeing it on the ballot paper would not mean much.
“I have no choice, I’ll have to look for another party to vote for. Since 1994 we’ve received empty promises. We are tired now. The ANC has put us on a muddy path,” he said.
In ward 120 in Lawley, south of Johannesburg, some residents said it would not matter to them if the ANC had a candidate in the area. A local ANC leader who asked not to be named told Sowetan that their nomination process for candidates was marred by irregularities that resulted in the lodging of a dispute that is yet to be resolved.
“At one of our voting stations there was only one party agent who was overseeing the process and when we checked the ballot papers against the list of community members who voted, it did not correlate. We verified addresses of those in the voters' roll and they said they did not vote. In addition, there were more votes than the actual number of members in that particular area. The whole process was flawed,” said the member.
Thembinkosi Ngwenya, a resident, said it did not matter to them who would be at the helm in their ward, as long as they received services.
Anna Tsotetsi, another resident, said the ANC’s internal squabbles do not affect them because they have been struggling while the ANC is in power.
“In the past we threatened that we would not vote if they did not resolve our problems [with services] but they have not done much. Maybe this is a sign that we don't need the ANC because they have not been doing anything for us,” she said.
In ward 16, Mapetla, Soweto, an ANC official said they did not know who their candidate was as they were still awaiting confirmation of their nominated candidate’s status from the party’s regional structure.
A community member said their issues were well documented and that their main concern was voting for someone who could help to alleviate their problems.
“If there is no ANC candidate, that's fine, I will vote for DA or EFF or even an independent candidate, as long as they will fight for us to have a constant supply of electricity,” said Ntswaki Phiri.
But another resident Teboho Mahlobogwane said he would not go to the polls should the ANC not have a candidate in their ward.
“The ANC has problems, we can all agree on that. But you don't leave your wife because she doesn't know how to cook, you help her and you overcome that problem. I will only vote for the ANC, and it doesn't matter who the candidate is. But if there is no candidate then I will not vote,” said Mahlobogwane.
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