ANC says it will not tolerate attempts by individuals to buy their way into municipal councils

As the African National Congress (ANC) prepares to field its candidates for the upcoming municipal elections, the party says it will not tolerate any attempts by individuals to use money to buy their way into municipal councils.

The party has released its guidelines for the local government elections, outlining the minimum criteria members must meet to qualify for seats in city councils across the country.

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In previous years, there have been allegations that some ANC members used patronage to secure higher placements on the party’s candidate lists.

During a briefing at Luthuli House on Monday, ANC electoral committee chairperson, Kgalema Motlanthe, emphasised that such conduct would not be tolerated.

"To ensure that money plays no role in the candidate selection process, candidates and their supporters may not produce T-shirts, media, branding of any object, banners, pamphlets or posters. They may not engage in any campaign that relies on donations or spend their own money, with the exception of paying for meeting venues."

He said that disciplinary measures would be enforced against anyone who bribed their way into municipal councils.

"Candidates found using money or dispensing patronage to buy votes will be disqualified from the candidate selection process and expelled from the ANC following internal disciplinary measures."