The African National Congress (ANC) has postponed its community nomination process for Ward 34 ahead of the local government elections following a medical emergency and ongoing community disputes on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. The gathering was halted abruptly after a prospective candidate collapsed at the venue.
ANC Regional Executive Committee (REC) member Rose Thabanchu noted that the nomination proceedings had been progressing smoothly before the sudden collapse. Following the incident and rising tensions regarding candidate selection, officials decided to suspend the meeting.
Thabanchu confirmed she will compile a formal report to be submitted to the ANC regional structure detailing the reasons for the postponement.
The ANC has assured residents of Ward 34 that a new date to announce their designated ward councillor will be communicated to the community in due course. The party remains tasked with resolving the local disputes to ensure a transparent and democratic selection of candidates for the upcoming 2026 South African municipal elections.
The party is continuing its community nomination process for other wards of Khuma township as part of its updated candidate selection guidelines. This approach forms a vital component of its broader strategy to overhaul local leadership and deepen participatory democracy ahead of the elections.
Following branch processes by the party, communities of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda region are actively engaged to provide their own inputs, ensuring the chosen candidate holds the confidence of the broader ward public.
