Motlanthe: ANC Councillors Without Matric Must Study or Face Removal

African National Congress councillors who do not hold a matriculation certificate must formally commit to furthering their education or face removal from office, according to ANC veteran Kgalema Motlanthe.

The directive targets local government representatives across municipal structures who lack a grade 12 qualification. Speaking on behalf of the party’s internal mechanisms, Motlanthe emphasized that educational standards are non-negotiable for public representatives tasked with running complex administrative environments. Municipal councils manage substantial public budgets and municipal infrastructure, requiring a baseline of literacy and analytical capability to provide effective oversight.

The policy implementation relies on structured academic pathways rather than immediate dismissals. Councillors without the required certification must enroll in accredited adult education or matriculation programs within a defined timeframe. Local branches and regional leadership structures are tasked with monitoring compliance and tracking academic progress.

Failure to enroll or demonstrate sustained commitment to the coursework results in disciplinary action and subsequent removal from municipal deployment. The measure addresses persistent capacity gaps within local government tiers, where service delivery failures are frequently linked to administrative and governance deficits.

Party structures are currently auditing municipal caucuses to identify representatives affected by the requirement. Regional secretaries must submit compliance reports to provincial executive committees ahead of upcoming municipal performance reviews.