JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — ActionSA has officially unveiled its ActionSA 2026 local government elections manifesto in Johannesburg, declaring a comprehensive war against the collapse of public infrastructure, lawlessness, and municipal incompetence.
Party leader Herman Mashaba, who is also the party’s mayoral candidate for the city, launched the document at the Johannesburg City Hall—the very same venue where he was first elected as executive mayor in 2016. Addressing a crowd of supporters and fellow party leaders, Mashaba emphasized that South Africans are tired of paying for a government that does not work and politicians who disappear after election day.
The “ABCs” of Local Government and Financial Reform
At the heart of the newly launched nine-point plan is a return to the “ABCs” of local government. The party’s manifesto prioritizes reliable water provision, electricity, refuse collection, well-maintained roads, and functional street lighting.
ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont highlighted that fixing broken municipalities requires redirecting funds away from political luxuries and toward frontline service delivery. Beaumont noted that during Mashaba’s previous tenure as Johannesburg mayor, the city saved approximately R2 billion previously spent on international travel and self-promotional advertising. This financial restructuring successfully increased the municipal budget share dedicated to electricity, water, and roads from 58% to 71%.
The party argues that without a strong, sustainable revenue base and improved balance sheets, municipalities will remain bankrupt and unable to provide basic services to residents.
Crime Fighting, Law Enforcement, and Immigration
ActionSA has placed crime fighting and law enforcement at the center of its local government campaign. The manifesto promises a severe crackdown on urban decay, illegal connections, hijacked buildings, and infrastructure theft.
“We will put more law enforcement officers on our streets, properly trained, properly equipped, and deployed where they are needed most,” Mashaba stated. The party also plans to strengthen municipal courts to ensure bylaws are enforced and cases do not simply disappear.
Furthermore, the party outlined a strict, rule-of-law-based approach to illegal immigration. Beaumont explained that while immigration is largely a national competency, municipalities must step up where national government fails. ActionSA intends to work alongside the South African Police Service and the Department of Home Affairs, utilizing Metro Police to arrest undocumented individuals and regulate both the formal and informal economies, including the operations of spaza shops.
Professionalizing the Public Service
To ensure competent governance, ActionSA plans to field doctors, accountants, business people, and community leaders in the upcoming elections. Once in power, the party intends to conduct comprehensive skills audits across all municipal staffing structures.
Beaumont warned that the line between party and state must be eradicated, targeting the bloated middle management often filled by political deployees. He noted that when skills audits were previously initiated in Johannesburg, many unqualified officials voluntarily resigned to avoid scrutiny, sending a clear message to corrupt officials across the country to “go now.”
Strict Coalition Principles
Acknowledging that no single party is likely to secure outright majorities in most municipalities, ActionSA outlined its strict framework for post-election coalition negotiations.
The party confirmed it will not enter into any pre-election pacts. Instead, it will evaluate coalition partnerships on a municipal-by-municipal basis after the November 4 results are declared. ActionSA maintains that it is willing to work with all political parties—including the ANC, DA, MK Party, and IFP—provided they meet specific non-negotiables:
- A commitment to achieving service delivery for all residents.
- A unified stance against corruption.
- A coherent plan to deal with illegal immigration.
- A publicly available, written coalition agreement that outlines clear deliverables.
Beaumont stressed that ActionSA insists on leading any coalitions it joins, arguing that coalitions led by the ANC or DA have historically failed due to arrogance or extractive political behavior. He pointed to the city of Tshwane, currently led by ActionSA’s Dr. Nasiphi Moya, as proof that when the right leaders are in charge, coalitions can deliver stability and tangible progress.
A Growing Political Footprint
As the party heads into the November 4 local government elections, ActionSA is leveraging its current political footprint. The party currently holds 44 proportional representation councilors in Johannesburg, making it one of the largest voting blocks in the city after the ANC and the DA. Meanwhile, it continues to lead the capital city of Tshwane.
With the manifesto now launched, ActionSA’s message to the electorate and rival parties is clear: they are campaigning to win as many votes as possible, and any future coalition discussions will be strictly on their own terms.
