JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the race for municipal power intensifies ahead of the November 4th Local Government Elections, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have unveiled a comprehensive manifesto aimed at transforming local governance. EFF Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini recently detailed the party’s five-year commitments, placing access to clean water, the eradication of the tender system, and direct job creation at the forefront of their 2026 Local Government Elections agenda.
According to Dlamini, the manifesto is a practical, community-driven solution designed to build stronger municipalities that deliver services, create jobs, and restore dignity. The party’s platform is built on five core pillars, beginning with the insourcing of municipal labor and the outright elimination of labor brokers, middlemen, and private contractors for basic municipal tasks.
Dlamini emphasized the need for a permanent, directly employed technical workforce—including engineers, technicians, plumbers, and artisans—to maintain municipal infrastructure such as water pipes, electrical lines, and roads. He illustrated the financial drain of the current system by noting that municipalities often allocate up to R30,000 per month for a single security guard through a tender, yet the worker receives a mere R2,000, with the middleman absorbing the rest. By cutting out these intermediaries, Dlamini argued, municipalities can redirect funds to hire qualified professionals directly, thereby eliminating revenue leakages and the incentive to use substandard materials that lead to recurring infrastructure failures.
The second pillar focuses on infrastructure renewal and service delivery. The EFF has pledged to prioritize water and sanitation by repairing leaking pipes, upgrading aging reservoirs, and eliminating sewer spills, particularly in historically underserved townships and rural areas. The plan also includes direct municipal management of electricity grid maintenance, mass road maintenance, street light restoration, storm water drainage upgrades, and the clearing of illegal dumping sites.
On land, housing, and spatial planning, the manifesto calls for comprehensive urban land audits. Unused land and hijacked buildings would be expropriated or repurposed for public housing and small businesses. The party also promises time-bound plans to upgrade informal settlements, provide serviced stands with clean water and sanitation, and accelerate title deed deliveries.
To drive local economic development and job creation, the EFF proposes establishing township and rural industrial parks, creating municipality-owned manufacturing and production facilities, and actively cooperating with and supporting SMMEs. Finally, the party is committing to free basic services and cost-of-living relief, offering direct relief for the poor, unemployed, and low-income households regarding rates, taxes, and utility disconnections, while opposing the treatment of municipalities as commercial debt collectors targeting working-class families.
Addressing concerns about municipal affordability and revenue collection, Dlamini rejected the notion that South African citizens are inherently dishonest or rebellious when it comes to paying for services. He argued that residents rightfully refuse to pay for nonsensical, unexplained bills, citing examples of water accounts jumping from R5,000 to R25,000 without justification. While acknowledging that illegal connections exist, Dlamini stated these often highlight a lack of formal service provision in informal settlements. He stressed that indigent households must be subsidized, while the real revenue leakage stems from large industries colluding with corrupt officials to avoid paying utilities.
Dlamini pointed to the EFF’s track record in coalition spaces as proof that these policies are viable. He highlighted the tenure of an EFF MMC for Water who was recognized as a “water champion” for successfully managing a water crisis before being obstructed by political rivals, as well as an EFF MMC for Finance who recently secured a clean audit for the province. He noted that the party has successfully pushed insourcing policies through negotiation in municipalities like Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Nelson Mandela Bay, focusing on policy outcomes rather than fighting over mayoral positions.
Looking ahead to the November 4th polls, Dlamini expressed confidence in the party’s trajectory, citing recent Ipsos polling data that shows the EFF regaining ground. The polls indicate national support at around 11%, with strong regional showings of approximately 27% in Buffalo City and 25% in Limpopo.
For the first time, the EFF has fielded mayoral candidates in all municipalities, a move driven by voter demand. While acknowledging that outright majorities in major metros will be difficult in the current era of coalition politics, Dlamini affirmed that the party is aggressively targeting strong, influential positions in key areas, including Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City.
“Our obsession is to get the best in terms of technical skills,” Dlamini concluded. “We don’t even ask if you are a member of the EFF when we look for an engineer or a manager. We say bring your qualifications and your experience. This time, it has to be about our people, and that is our commitment to the people of South Africa.”
