The ANC has filed court papers challenging the exclusion of unregistered candidates ahead of South Africa's local government elections. According to the party, it was unable to register the candidates because of technical glitches in the Electoral Commission's (IEC) system. The legal action seeks to address the registration failures so the affected candidates can participate in the polls.

The African National Congress has lodged an appeal against South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission over disputed candidate nominations. According to IOL, the ANC argues that candidates whose details were captured in the IEC system before the submission deadline should be regarded as having been properly submitted, even if the nomination process was not fully completed in time. The dispute centres on how the IEC interprets its cut-off rules for candidate registration.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula is facing a backlash within the party over chaos surrounding its election candidate lists, according to TimesLIVE. Candidates were reportedly left off lists submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), putting the party at risk of losing control of some municipalities. The blunder has sparked internal criticism of Mbalula, known as 'Boss', over his handling of the selection process.

Several prominent ANC figures, including Chikane, Lungisa and Mafu, have been left off the party's election lists amid internal nomination turmoil, according to TimesLIVE. The exclusions affect key mayoral hopefuls and highlight divisions within the party as it prepares its candidate slates for upcoming elections in South Africa.

Eastern Cape ANC chairperson Oscar Mabuyane says he is not ruling out internal sabotage after the party missed candidate registration deadlines, according to TimesLIVE. Mabuyane reportedly suspects that figures within the ANC may have deliberately contributed to the administrative failure. The missed deadline has raised questions about internal party tensions as the ANC prepares for upcoming elections, with Mabuyane calling for accountability over the blunder.

Eastern Cape ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi has publicly challenged the party's secretary-general Fikile Mbalula over the ANC's failure to submit council candidates for elections. According to TimesLIVE, Ngcukayitobi is demanding answers as a bitter internal blame game erupts within the party over who is responsible for the failed submission. The dispute highlights deepening divisions inside the ANC ahead of the polls.