ANC announces four-name shortlist for Polokwane mayoral contest
The African National Congress (ANC) has narrowed its choices for the Polokwane mayoralty to four nominees, party leaders announced at its 2026 Mayoral Candidate Announcement and Local Government Elections manifesto launch in Gauteng over the weekend, according to the party.
The four shortlisted are incumbent mayor John Mpe, Polokwane speaker Welhemina Modiba, regional executive member Matlala Pheedi and ANC member of parliament Soviet Lekganyane, the ANC’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said at the event. The four were reportedly interviewed in July at Luthuli House, the party’s national headquarters.
- John Mpe — incumbent mayor of Polokwane.
- Welhemina Modiba — speaker of the Polokwane municipality.
- Matlala Pheedi — regional executive member.
- Soviet Lekganyane — ANC member of parliament.
Polokwane was the only municipality in Limpopo whose shortlisted nominees were publicly introduced at the national event, which had President Cyril Ramaphosa as keynote speaker, the party said.
"The nominees formed part of the party’s talent pool for public representatives in local government, selected through branch nominations, background checks and ethical evaluations," Mbalula said, explaining the new approach to selecting local government candidates.
Mbalula said the interviews were conducted by panels established by the ANC’s National Executive Committee and overseen by the electoral committee chaired by former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe. The party has said the revised process is intended to replace the traditional practice of immediately naming final candidates and to achieve a number of internal objectives.
Why the new process matters
According to the ANC’s explanation, the selection system aims to:
- reduce factional contestation within the party;
- guard against slate voting at branch level;
- subject prospective candidates to public scrutiny; and
- formalise vetting through background checks and ethical evaluations.
The party said the final mayoral candidate for Polokwane is expected to be announced in September, after leaders complete their deliberations. The announcement will determine who will represent the ANC in the run-up to the local government elections and will shape the contest for control of the municipality, given Polokwane’s role as the provincial capital and a regional economic centre.
Local implications
Residents and civic groups in Polokwane will be watching the final selection closely. The mayoral post carries responsibility for service delivery, municipal finances and local economic development — matters that have direct impact on daily life in the city and surrounding communities. The ANC’s emphasis on vetting and ethical reviews signals an attempt to reassure voters and party members that nominees meet standards of probity and competence, the party said.
The announcement also reflects internal ANC reform efforts at national level to manage candidate selection more centrally and transparently, the party maintains. Panels overseen by the electoral committee and NEC-established bodies will complete interviews and report back before the leadership makes its choice.
| Candidate | Current role |
|---|---|
| John Mpe | Incumbent mayor |
| Welhemina Modiba | Polokwane speaker |
| Matlala Pheedi | Regional executive member |
| Soviet Lekganyane | ANC member of parliament |
The ANC’s method and timetable mean that Polokwane’s mayoral campaign will now enter a more focused phase once the party announces its final candidate in September. Until then, the four shortlisted nominees remain the key figures to watch as the ANC prepares for the local government elections, the party said.
