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ANC Veterans League head admits party failed municipalities

Published

Snuki Zikalala, president of the ANC Veterans League, said the party can still correct its mistakes ahead of local government elections. He said the ANC vetted councillor candidates and pointed to its record on electricity and water.

Zikalala spoke in an interview on 702. Asked about municipal failures, cadre deployment and the appointment of unskilled people, he said: "We are saying that we failed. We do agree that we failed,"

Zikalala said 355 people seeking to become councillor candidates had criminal records. He said 250 others declined to submit their criminal records and were removed. He also said the ANC wanted councillors to have matric certificates and mayors to have postgraduate degrees. Ward candidates should undergo lifestyle audits, he said.

He defended the ANC record since 1994. Zikalala said only 30% to 40% of the country had electricity before 1994, compared with more than 95% today. He said 90% of South Africans now have access to water.

Zikalala also said he headed a rapid response team in Johannesburg for about four months. He said it was successful, with improvements to traffic lights, potholes and water provision during G20 preparations. He blamed problems after the G20 on internal issues within the City of Johannesburg.

Key facts

Who
Snuki Zikalala (President of the ANC Veterans League); African National Congress (governing party; subject of the interview); ANC Veterans League (organisation whose president gave the interview)
What
In an interview on 702, Zikalala conceded ANC failures in municipal governance and cadre deployment ahead of local government elections, while arguing the party remained capable of correcting its mistakes. He cited ANC candidate-vetting measures and its record on electrification and water access.
When
28 October 2026
Where
Johannesburg, South Africa
Status
Reported

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