Johannesburg - Amidst the violence that accompanied the naming of Tshwane’s mayoral candidate, the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday confirmed that MP Thoko Didiza has been named as its mayoral candidate for the metro.
“Comrade Thoko Didiza was presented as the mayoral candidate to the Tshwane regional executive committee, the intervention was unanimously agreed to by the PEC (Provincial Executive Committee),” ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte told reporters in Johannesburg.
At a post national executive committee meeting on Saturday, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said the Tshwane region had initially put three names forward for the mayoral candidacy, but said the third name was removed.
A meeting held with Tshwane ANC branches to finalise the candidacy was held on Sunday, but this was marked by outbreaks of violence in which an ANC member was shot dead and several more injured in clashes.
Duarte said: “We condemn the violence and call for peace, and we unfortunately cannot name the deceased ANC member yet until the family gives us the go ahead.”
She said the PEC had “unanimously accepted the candidacy decision” and would take the Didiza decision to the branches.
Outgoing mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa and Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile were present at the briefing.
Tshwane is set to be one of the fiercely contested metros for the August 3 local government polls.
The Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance have been making inroads into the ANC’s support base in Tshwane, hoping to build enough support to unseat the governing party.
African News Agency