Just weeks before the 2026 elections, a high court in South Africa has overturned the African National Congress’s (ANC) decision to remove Andile Lungisa from their candidate list for the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. The court deemed the ANC’s removal of Lungisa unlawful, issuing a mandate for his immediate reinstatement as a candidate. This ruling comes at a critical juncture, as parties finalize preparations for the upcoming polls. The court also ordered the ANC to cover Lungisa’s legal expenses incurred during the challenge. This decision is likely to reignite internal tensions within the ANC and could impact the electoral landscape in Nelson Mandela Bay. Political analysts are closely watching to see how the ANC will respond and whether this ruling sets a precedent for future candidate selections.