The African National Congress (ANC) will appeal a High Court judgment concerning the removal of Andile Lungisa from the party’s proportional representation candidate list for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
In a statement, ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the party had noted the judgment handed down by the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg and resolved to challenge the decision.
“The ANC has resolved to appeal the judgment, as it raises fundamental questions concerning the organisational autonomy of political parties and their authority to regulate internal democratic processes,” Bhengu said.
The ANC maintains that selecting candidates for public office is an organisational responsibility governed by its constitution, established guidelines and collective decision-making structures.
The party said the judgment raised important legal questions about the interpretation and application of its internal rules, particularly the authority to enforce candidate eligibility requirements and uphold organisational discipline.
“These matters warrant further judicial consideration to ensure clarity on the constitutional relationship between political parties, their internal democratic processes and the courts,” the statement reads.
The ANC said it would pursue the appropriate legal remedies while reaffirming its commitment to organisational discipline, democratic centralism and the collective authority of its constitutional structures.
The party also called on its members and structures to remain united, disciplined and focused on securing a decisive electoral mandate to continue building better communities.