Thoko Didiza confirmed as ANC mayoral candidate for Tshwane

ANC Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte said the decision was final.

"The intervention was unanimously accepted by the Regional Executive Committee (REC). Comrade Didiza is a senior and seasoned leader of our movement with extensive experience in governance," Duarte said at a press conference at Luthuli House.

Duarte also confirmed that a member of the ANC was shot and killed on Sunday evening at a conference in Pretoria to decide on the mayoral candidate.

"The ANC calls for calm and discipline amongst our members and we ask them to rally behind the decision of the organisation," she said.

The ANC top brass met over the weekend for a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to discuss names for the upcoming local government elections for mayoral positions, but - to much surprise - Tshwane did not select a mayoral candidate due to the NEC and the PEC rejecting the names submitted to the REC.

Didiza's name was submitted on Sunday which led to clashes between factions disagreeing over who should lead Tshwane.

Kgotsientso Ramokgopa will not be returning to the mayoral post, after his name was not submitted.

ANC chairperson in Gauteng Paul Mashatile has called on Ramakgopa, who led one of the factions, to support Didiza.