The lists of ANC candidates for the 1999 elections were approved by the National Working Committee on Thursday 29 April 1999 and submitted to the IEC on Monday 3 May 1999.
The finalisation of the list by the National Working Committee was a culmination of a democratic process which began in June 1998 when branches of the ANC were given an opportunity to nominate candidates to serve on all legislatures. This was followed by Provincial List Conferences during November and October 1998.
On 13-14 February 1999, a special extended meeting of the ANC National Executive Committee approved the lists and referred them to the National List Appeals Committee for further scrutiny and to hear objections and appeals from ANC members.
Changes were effected on the lists to ensure compliance with the guidelines adopted by the NEC at the beginning of the list process, particularly to ensure that women constitute at least a third of all the lists.
Some of the people whose names were on the lists requested to withdraw for various reasons which the Appeals Committee and the National Working Committee accepted. These include Deputy Minister of Finance Gill Marcus, who has been appointed as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank and Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Nzo.
Changes were also made in some provinces to include candidate Premiers who were not originally on the Provincial lists.
The Mpumalanga lists were amended in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.
The ANC has satisfied itself that these women and men is presenting to the people of South Africa to serve as their public representatives will, in the next five years, provide the kind of firm leadership that is necessary to meet our objectives as a nation.
Issued by Smuts Ngonyama; Head of ANC Department of Information and Publicity
For inquiries contact Thabo Masebe at 082 551 4945
4 May 1999