ANC candidate list 2024 and its leakage?

JOHANNESBURG – The African National Congress (ANC) has called for an investigation into the “unauthorised release” of its candidate lists for the upcoming elections.

The list, which includes personal information of the party’s national and provincial candidates, started making the rounds on social media on Friday, a short while after the ANC’s submission to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

Political parties and independent candidates had until five o’clock Friday afternoon to submit these lists to contest in the upcoming polls.

The ANC said the leaking of this confidential document is concerning, as it not only breaches the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act, but also poses a reputational risk for the IEC.

Based on the IEC’s timetable, these lists were set to be open for inspection on 26 and 27 March.

The ANC said this gives opposition parties an unfair advantage, as they will have two weeks to inspect and prepare objections against the candidates nominated by the party.

It said an investigation into this will help ensure that it does not happen again.

African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa says they have been in discussions with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) after the unauthorized disclosure of the party’s candidate lists.

Earlier, the ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said they view the unauthorised disclosure of personal information to be a contravention of the Protection of Personal Information Act.

Mbalula further expressed shock at finding copies of the party’s National-to-National, and Gauteng Regional Lists on social media.

Ramaphosa says the IEC is investigating the circumstances surrounding the leak.

He says, “The list is out, we have nothing to hide even as the list was leaked. It is the list of the African National Congress. It’s unfortunate somebody was just too excited, somebody was just too eager to publicise the list and that in itself demeans the processes of the IEC and brings the IEC into disrepute. The IEC is a reputable organisation and we must continue upholding the integrity of the IEC.”