ANC in Ekurhuleni expels three councillors and orders a fourth to step aside ahead of 2026 local elections

The African National Congress (ANC) in Ekurhuleni has expelled three ward councillors and directed a fourth to step aside as the party moves to enforce organisational discipline ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

According to multiple regional reports, the expulsions were issued amid efforts by the party to curb internal breaches and manage growing tensions within its Ekurhuleni structures. IOL said the expulsions followed alleged breaches of the ANC constitution and electoral rules. News24 reported the councillors were expelled for backing competing interests, while The Citizen described the steps as part of a pre-election crackdown.

What the party has done

All three outlets say three ANC ward councillors were expelled by the party’s Ekurhuleni leadership. News24 and The Citizen add that a fourth councillor has been ordered to step aside. IOL specifically framed the action as a response to alleged violations of the party’s constitution and electoral regulations.

None of the reports named the councillors involved in the disciplinary actions, and the party’s formal statements on the matter were not reproduced in the reports. The coverage indicates the moves form part of broader attempts by the regional ANC to assert internal control and manage candidate and loyalty disputes ahead of the municipal contest next year.

Context and significance

The expulsions occur as the ANC prepares for the 2026 local government elections, a period when parties often intensify internal discipline to present united electoral slates. The Citizen framed the action as a pre-election crackdown and noted ongoing internal tensions in Ekurhuleni. News24 emphasised the expulsions and the order to step aside as steps to tighten organisational discipline.

Ekurhuleni is a key metro in Gauteng, and internal disputes there have implications for the ANC’s local electoral prospects. The region has been drawn into factional battles and candidate selection disputes in recent years, and the current disciplinary measures suggest the party is seeking to limit visible dissent in the run-up to next year’s polls.

What remains unclear

Reports differ slightly on the phrasing of the alleged offences: IOL cites breaches of constitution and electoral rules, while News24 describes the councillors as having backed competition. The individual identities of the councillors and the detailed findings of any disciplinary hearings were not provided in the coverage available.

Party sources or formal disciplinary documents were not included in the reports; the news outlets relied on regional ANC announcements and internal sources. Further details are likely to emerge if the ANC publishes its disciplinary findings or if local council records reflect changes to membership following the expulsions and the step-aside directive.

The actions underline the ANC’s current focus on internal discipline in key metros as it prepares for the 2026 local government elections.