JOHANNESBURG - Their failure to submit candidates will affect the ANC's representation in several major municipalities ahead of the November elections.
This is according to elections analyst Wayne Sussman said it could leave the party with significantly fewer councillors on the proportional representation list.
“ANC knew full well that they weren't going to fill every single one of those 181 positions. They weren't going to win every single one of those seats. But I think they were going to win about 100 to 110 out of those 181 available seats. Now you've got 100 to 110 less representatives.
“That sets you back in the OR Tambo district in the Eastern Cape. That sets you back in more rural districts in the Eastern Cape. And that sets you back in a critical metropolitan area like Mangaung where the current mayor, Gregory Nthlatsi, is not going to return to the council because he was on the PR list and the ANC didn't submit the major metropolitan area of Manguang. So it's not as bad as 181, but 100 is a fortune, so it's not a drop in the ocean, it is a significant setback."