The Provincial Task Team (PTT) of the ANC in the Eastern Cape convened a special meeting on Monday, 15 June 2026, on the eve of the June 16 Youth Day commemoration via a virtual platform.
Honouring the Generation of 1976:
The PTT dips its banner in honour of the fearless youth of 1976 who confronted the apartheid state brutality with nothing but their conviction and school uniforms. June 16 was a turning point in our liberation struggle. It shattered the myth of invincibility of the apartheid regime and internationalised the plight of black South Africans. The students of Soweto, led by giants like Tsietsi Mashinini, Hastings Ndlovu, and Hector Pieterson, taught us that young people are not spectators of history – they are its authors. Their blood irrigated the tree of freedom. Today, we wage a new struggle for economic freedom against unemployment, poverty, and inequality. Their sacrifice demands that we deliver.
State of Election Readiness:
The PTT received a comprehensive report on the state of the Provincial Election Machinery ahead of the Open Voter Registration Weekend scheduled for 20–21 June 2026. We confirm the readiness of all election structures, operation centres, volunteers, party agents, and voting districts across the province. The machinery includes Regional Election Teams, Local Election Teams, Branch Election Teams, the Provincial Election Team, deployees, councillors, MPs and MPL’s, the Leagues, and thousands of volunteers. We are satisfied that the ANC in the Eastern Cape is combat-ready to engage our people and register every eligible voter. We call on all our structures to occupy every voting district this weekend.
Condemnation of Political Violence and GBV:
The PTT conveys deepest condolences to the family, friends, and comrades of our ANC member who was brutally assassinated in the OR Tambo Region in the area of Kumkani Mhlontlo . We condemn in the strongest terms the incident and the use of gun violence in our community and call upon the South African Police Services (SAPS) to act swiftly and deploy the PKTT to ensure efficient investigation and the ultimate apprehension of the perpetrators. We wish to convey sincere condolences to the family of comrade Wonele Gontshiand further wish Comrade Ngawonke Bulala a speedy and full recovery following an attempt on his life.
We equally condemn the horrific incident of gender-based violence that allegedly occurred in the Chris Hani District. We stand firmly with the victim and wish her a speedy recovery, both physical and psychological. The ANC calls on law enforcement agencies to act with urgency and reinforce their capacity to ensure that the perpetrator is brought to book. A successful prosecution of all perpetrators in both incidents should be ensured by all relevant organs of state power in the interest of restoring justice and order in our society. We will not tolerate anarchy, criminality, or patriarchy in our communities. The ANC stands on the side of the victims. Any act of injustice against women and children, no matter how small, is injustice against the entire humanity.
Candidate Selection Process:
The ANC’s internal democratic process for candidate selection is underway. Branch General Meetings for candidate nominations are proceeding smoothly and without any material incidents, indicative of a maturing democracy and an ANC that is adhering to the set guidelines throughout the province. We are confident that despite delays, the province will comply with the set timelines by the national leadership. We urge all ANC branches to convene community meetings to ensure an inclusive, transparent process that places our communities at the centre of selecting their preferred candidates for the upcoming local government elections.
We call upon all branches to adhere to the set guidelines, ensure that the first BGMs nominate four candidates, no less than 50% should be women, youth should be prioritised and strictly popular candidates with good public standing in the community. This and all other set guidelines should strictly be adhered to.
Branches are advised that the second BGMs should not by any means seek to alter the outcomes of the public meeting in that the interests of the ANC do not in principle vary from those of the community or the public, that the ANC represents the interests and aspirations of the people.
Local Government Elections – 4 November 2026
The PTT reaffirmed that the local government elections will be held on 4 November 2026. The ANC Eastern Cape is now in full campaign mode. We direct all structures, leagues, and the alliance to focus all efforts on securing a decisive ANC victory. We contest these elections not for power for its own sake, but to win the mandate to accelerate service delivery, create jobs, and change the lives of the people of the Eastern Cape for the better.
Conclusion :
On this June 16, we salute the youth of 1976 and the youth of today. The spirit of Soweto lives. We wish all the people of the Eastern Cape and South Africa a revolutionary and reflective Youth Day commemoration.
END
Issued by ANC Eastern Cape
Yanga Zicina
Provincial Spokesperson
Contact: +2778 640 2752
Media Enquiries:
Gift Ngqondi
Provincial Head of Communications
Contact: +2784 843 9706/0849519924
