Picture: ANC NEC member, Andile Lungisa
By STAFF REPORTER
3 October 2026 – The African National Congress (ANC) said it will abide by the decision of the Gauteng High Court sitting in Johannesburg following an urgent application brought against the organisation, its National Executive Committee (NEC) and its Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula by senior ANC member, Andile Lungisa. Lungisa, who is also a member of the NEC, brought the application in connection with the organisation’s decision regarding his candidacy.
The ANC spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu said it was regrettable that the matter had reached the courts, arguing that its internal structures were established to resolve such disputes. Bhengu said the rules by which the applicant considers himself aggrieved are the rules of the National Executive Committee (NEC), a body of which he is a member, and by whose decisions he is bound as every one of us is bound.
“The matter has been argued and judgment is awaited. The organisation respected the court and would abide by its decision. The ANC respects the court and will abide by its decision, whatever it may be,” she said.
Bhengu further said all individuals seeking to represent the organisation on a ballot are required to undergo its vetting process, with no exceptions based on membership, position or level within the organisation. She added that its appointed vetting agency initially reported that Lungisa had not attended the required process, which includes the taking of biometric prints necessary for a criminal-record assessment.
“The party said the outcome was subsequently obtained and contained adverse findings that remain applicable. These findings placed Lungisa outside the criteria adopted by the NEC for candidate nominees.
“The conviction and sentence relevant to the matter were matters of public record and had been confirmed on appeal by the Supreme Court of Appeal. Membership of the ANC or service in its structures did not guarantee a person public office,” said Bhengu.
She said membership of the ANC and service in any of its structures, carries no guarantee of public office. Bhengu said deployment is not an entitlement.
“Our rules and guidelines were being applied during our renewal process without fear, favour or exception. So, we would prefer to resolve the matter internally and we express our willingness to engage with Lungisa about his future and other ways in which he could contribute to society.
“Our immediate responsibility was to voters in Nelson Mandela Bay and other municipalities, where we would contest the 4 November 2026 local government elections,” she said.
Bhengu said voters were entitled to candidates who were legally eligible to stand for election and whose candidacy complied with the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act and the Constitution. She said they will not place before the people a candidacy that they cannot lawfully certify.
Bhengu said ANC would make no further comment on the matter, while the court’s judgment was awaited.
