The African National Congress (ANC) is set to unveil its mayoral candidates this weekend after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) adopted its local government election manifesto on Friday.

The move signals a break from the ANC’s long-standing practice of choosing and announcing mayors only after elections, as the ruling party seeks to reclaim lost ground and defend several metros currently governed through coalitions.

Journal News understands that the ANC’s Top Seven have concluded the selection process for key metros, with the candidates expected to be announced ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s manifesto launch on 23 August.

In the closely watched City of Johannesburg, veteran politician Frank Chikane is expected to carry the ANC’s mayoral bid. He is likely to face DA candidate Helen Zille, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and EFF candidate Tlaleng Mofokeng.

The ANC is also set to retain several incumbent mayors in an effort to strengthen its campaign and woo voters. They include Gregory Nthatisi in Mangaung, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza in Ekurhuleni, Cyril Xaba in eThekwini and Princess Faku in Buffalo City.

Meanwhile, new faces are expected to take the reins in two key metros, with Tlangi Mogale tipped for the City of Tshwane and Andile Lungisa for Nelson Mandela Bay.

The early announcement of mayoral candidates is expected to give the ANC more time to campaign around its preferred candidates as it battles to regain control of municipalities ahead of the local government elections.

The party’s highest decision-making body between conferences also finalised its election priorities and campaign focus.  

Briefing the media on the sidelines of the ANC NEC meeting in Boksburg, East Rand on Friday, Mbalula also explained the delays in the announcement of candedates and the launching the manifesto.

“We are going to announce the mayoral candidates in a week leading to the manifesto, it will happen before the 23rd, on the 15th of August, there is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Durban which will end on the 17th. The leader of the campaign is the President, and that is him who launches the manifesto, so he will not be available on those dates and that is why we were able to inform the media that we will now launch on the 23rd. So it has got nothing to do with finances and our manifesto will be launched in Riverside, Diepsloot,” said Mbalula.