The African National Congress (ANC) has tightened its candidate requirements ahead of upcoming local elections, mandating that all prospective councillors hold a matric certificate, according to News24.
The party has given current councillor candidates who lack the qualification a final deadline to obtain it, as reported by Business Day. The directive requires those without matric to complete the certificate within one year, per IOL.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula clarified that the new rule applies specifically to councillor positions, not to all party roles, according to eNCA. He said the lack of a matric certificate would not be a barrier for other positions within the party structure.
The move marks a significant shift in the party's selection criteria for local government representatives. News24 reports that the ANC is enforcing the educational standard as part of its preparations for the next municipal elections.
SABC News confirmed the party will not allow candidates without matric to stand as councillors under the new rules. The policy appears aimed at raising the educational bar for those seeking public office at the local level.
The deadline gives existing candidates a defined window to meet the new standard, though the exact timeline for enforcement beyond the one-year period was not detailed in the reports.
What to watch next: how the requirement affects candidate lists and whether other parties follow suit before the local elections.
