WATCH: ANC denies Chikane withdrew from Joburg mayoral race as party announces candidates

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has dismissed reports that party veteran Frank Chikane has withdrawn from the race to become the ANC's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, saying he remains among those being considered for the position.

African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has dismissed as a lie reports that ANC veteran Frank Chikane has withdrawn from the race to become the party's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg.

Mbalula was speaking on the sidelines of the party's announcement of its mayoral candidates for eight metros and 44 district municipalities at the Sandton International Convention Centre on Saturday.

He said Chikane remained among those being considered for the Johannesburg mayoral candidacy.

"See more than one name, including that lie that Chikane withdrew. You will be here. You should be here," Mbalula said.

He said the ANC was confident in its process for selecting mayoral candidates, adding that the party had raised the standards for those seeking the positions.

"We are very confident in the process and we are very much confident that we have upped the ante in terms of the candidates, particularly mayoral candidates," he said.

"In the past, what used to happen is that you would have a candidate after the election, and whether that candidate is qualified or not, you would then get that person to become the mayor."

"Now we are fixated. A mayor must have certain qualities and must also have education as a base in terms of a mayoral candidate," he added.

Mbalula said the candidates being announced had gone through an interview process.

The ANC, which has faced longstanding criticism over poor governance and administration, is under pressure to improve its performance in the local government elections.

Johannesburg is expected to be the ANC's most closely watched contest, with Chikane emerging as a potential frontrunner for the party's mayoral candidacy. The city's incumbent mayor is ANC councillor Dada Morero.

If selected, Chikane would face a crowded field in Johannesburg, including DA candidate Helen Zille, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, EFF candidate Tlaleng Mofokeng, Patriotic Alliance candidate Kenny Kunene, IFP candidate Mlungisi Mabaso, Rise Mzansi's Lukhona Mnguni, Build One South Africa's Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, and others.