JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has officially announced Yongama Zigebe as its Johannesburg mayoral candidate ahead of the November 4 local government elections. Zigebe has pledged to rebuild the city through stricter bylaw enforcement, transparent coalition governance, and leadership rooted in the lived experiences of Johannesburg residents.
Speaking on his vision for the city, Zigebe highlighted the resilience of Johannesburg residents who continue to hold local government accountable despite widespread voter apathy. He identified the cleanup of the inner city and the Central Business District (CBD) as a positive starting point, but stressed that stronger enforcement of municipal bylaws is urgently needed to ensure lasting cleanliness and safety. He noted that residents walking through challenging inner-city streets have long faced security and infrastructure problems that require decisive, structured intervention.
Addressing the prevailing narrative that Johannesburg is a “broken city” that could only be fixed by a return to single-party dominance, Zigebe pushed back firmly. He argued that decades of one-party dominance are what originally fractured the city’s infrastructure and governance. While coalitions inherited this broken system, Zigebe stated that the current struggles are not a failure of the coalition model itself, but rather a symptom of “political immaturity” and a lack of transparent, publicly shared coalition agreements.
He criticized the current political landscape for being overly focused on power and positions, leading to unilateral decisions and a breakdown in consultation among coalition partners. Zigebe emphasized that all parties in a coalition must remain accountable to the residents, which requires setting clear, publicized targets and fostering genuine collaboration rather than behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
When questioned about whether his age might be a disadvantage compared to the ANC and DA’s historically experienced candidates, Zigebe reframed the conversation around expertise. Having grown up in Alexandra from the age of six, he described a childhood marked by the trauma of flood-prone informal settlements and frequent fires. He argued that these “lived realities” constitute a vital form of expertise.
Complementing his grassroots background, Zigebe pointed to his practical political experience, including volunteering as a legislator in parliament and working alongside municipal leadership in Nelson Mandela Bay. He asserted that young leaders bring both fresh ideas and a deep understanding of community pain points, arguing that a combination of veteran experience and youthful perspective is exactly what the city needs to move forward. He specifically noted that housing solutions must focus on proper planning and upgrading flood-prone informal settlements, rather than simply relocating residents to areas like Diepsloot.
Defining his leadership style, Zigebe presented himself as a soft-spoken, listening-focused candidate. Contrasting his approach with noisy political rhetoric, he emphasized that effective leadership requires planning before execution and respecting the voices of the community.
“Our people need us to listen to them and not speak over them,” Zigebe stated, affirming his commitment to being a mayor who works alongside residents to prove that Johannesburg can indeed work.
