Some residents of Ngangelizwe in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, plan to boycott the 2026 local government elections [1].
The move signals growing frustration with the African National Congress (ANC) and could impact voter turnout in key Eastern Cape districts.
Residents said the ANC failed to listen to community preferences during its ward candidate selection process [1, 2]. This perceived lack of consultation has led some community members to reject the upcoming electoral process entirely [1, 2].
The unrest is not isolated to Mthatha. Reports indicate that residents in Khayelitsha and Samora Machel, specifically in Ward 98, have also voiced outrage over how the ANC selected its candidates [2].
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) manages the timeline for the upcoming vote. The commission said it will close the voters’ roll at midnight on the day the election date is officially proclaimed [1].
Local organizers in Ngangelizwe have not yet specified the scale of the planned boycott, but they said the party's internal processes ignored the will of the people [1].
“Residents say the ANC failed to listen to community preferences in its ward candidate selection”
The threat of a boycott in Mthatha and reports of similar outrage in Ward 98 suggest a disconnect between the ANC's national candidate selection machinery and local grassroots expectations. If these residents follow through with the boycott, it could weaken the party's traditional strongholds in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, potentially opening the door for opposition parties or independent candidates in the 2026 local government elections.
