JOHANNESBURG - ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says councillors and mayors are being selected on merit.
But not having matric is not an automatic disqualification.
Mbalula said in those cases experience will be prioritised.
"You've got ward candidates who have been selected, who are loved by communities and therefore people believe in them, but they don't have matric.
"Our guidelines are very clear. That person with experience, you ask for a waiver to the electoral commission, not to the SG and the electoral commission will process that," he said.
For new entrants, however, Mbalula said preference will be given to candidates with Grade 12.
But in the same breath, he drew a firm line when it comes to mayoral candidates.
He said the party will apply strict competence requirements.
"You can not be a mayoral candidate of the ANC if you don't have a university postgraduate qualification and you are not qualified. You can't.
"And you must have also a little bit of experience in running a municipality and sophisticated economies,"
The ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) is meeting to finalise its lists ahead of their release next month.