–Staff Writer / Sat, 14 February 2026
The African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State is facing mounting internal pressure after formally requesting alternative names for mayoral candidates in key municipalities. This has since led to a dissatisfaction.
In a letter dated 9 February 2026, ANC’s Provincial Secretary Polediso Motsoeneng instructed the Lejweleputswa regional leadership to submit alternative mayoral candidates for Nala Local Municipality, Masilonyana Local Municipality, and the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
The directive follows the report of the party’s Interview Panel and deliberations at the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), suggesting that the initial candidates may not have met expectations amongst others. But a source in the upperachelon of the party said this is contrary to the letter.
The reshuffle comes amid a significant policy shift by the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which now requires all mayoral candidates to possess a minimum qualification of NQF Level 6.
The move has been widely as an attempt to professionalise local government leadership following years of service delivery failures, governance crises and audit disclaimers across municipalities.
While the ANC has declared 2026 the “year of decisive action to fix local government,” the requirement is already causing discomfort within certain regional structures where seasoned political leaders may not meet the academic threshold.
Political analysts say the new rule could dramatically reshape candidate lists, sidelining some long-serving cadres while opening the door for younger, formally qualified leaders.
A reliable source in the upperachelon of the party’s provincial structure told News Junction that a certain PEC member and also an MEC is unhappy that her preffered candidate could not make the cut. Infact the candidate could not even finish the interview with his dismissal performance during the interview.
Meanwhile, the party in that province is set to hold the PEC Lekgotla that is set to convene from 14–15 February 2026 at the Bloemfontein Show ground. The Lekgotla is expected to reflect on national resolutions aimed at repairing local governance and accelerating economic transformation.
However, behind the scenes, the urgent request for new names suggests that internal candidate vetting is far from settled.
Both Nala and Masilonyana municipalities have previously faced governance challenges, making leadership selection particularly sensitive.
If enforced strictly, the NEC’s academic requirement could become a watershed moment in ANC internal reform signalling a shift from purely political deployment toward competence-based appointments.
News Junction (Gold Standard)