JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the 2026 local government elections approach this November, former Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa has issued a stark warning to voters, urging them to demand concrete service delivery plans rather than falling for political gimmicks and empty promises.
With the sixth installment of the local government elections set for November 4, political parties have aggressively ramped up their campaigns, focusing heavily on basic service delivery, municipal debt, and job creation. However, Shilowa argues that many of these campaign strategies amount to “selling dreams, not delivery,” cautioning the public against being sold “snake oil” instead of actionable governance plans.
Gimmicks Over Governance
According to Shilowa, political parties are not approaching the local government elections with the necessary degree of seriousness. While parties are eager to win, he noted that they are failing to take the voters seriously by relying on playful campaign tactics rather than substantive policy.
Shilowa pointed out that systemic issues such as water and sanitation failures, mismanagement, potholes, and uncut grass are not confined to a single city like Johannesburg but are prevalent everywhere. Yet, he argues that no party is moving beyond vague promises to explain exactly *how* they will fix these issues.
The ‘Fly-In, Fly-Out’ Mayoral Candidates
A major point of contention for the former Premier is the trend of national leaders positioning themselves as mayoral candidates. Shilowa called out figures, noting that many of these national leaders have no intention of staying in local government if they fail to secure the mayoral chain.
He argued that if these leaders do not become mayor, they will simply return to their “cushy jobs” as deputy ministers or members of parliament in Cape Town or Pretoria. Shilowa emphasized that true local governance requires leaders willing to “slog it out” as ordinary councillors to tackle municipal issues, rather than treating the mayoral race as an all-or-nothing gamble for personal political advancement.
Addressing the “kingmaker” dynamic, Shilowa dismissed the idea that smaller parties will realistically hold the balance of power to install their own mayors through coalition negotiations. He suggested that while some candidates hope to be kingmakers in exchange for MMC (Mayoral Committee) positions, the reality is that future coalitions will likely be led by the majority parties working alongside others.
Demanding Financial Transparency
To counter the wave of empty promises, Shilowa is demanding that political parties provide detailed financial blueprints. He used the City of Johannesburg as a prime example, noting that with a budget of roughly R70 billion, voters need to know exactly how that money will be spent.
“It’s one thing to say we will cut grass, we will balance the budget, but I want to hear them say… how much is already going into administration, how much is remaining,” Shilowa explained. He challenged parties to explain how they will fund road maintenance, traffic lights, and water sanitation, especially in municipalities rumored to be facing bankruptcy. Simply promising to “sort out corruption” and “deploy the right people” is no longer a sufficient answer; voters need to see the day-one budget.
The ANC’s Vulnerability and the Danger of Voter Apathy
Shilowa acknowledged that the ANC currently has its “back against the wall” heading into these elections. He noted that, except in provinces like Limpopo, the ruling party will struggle to secure above 50% of the vote in many municipalities.
However, he warned that this vulnerability does not automatically translate to a victory for opposition parties, as no single party is currently ready to deal a “final blow” or fully disrupt the established political order. This dynamic risks breeding voter apathy. Shilowa highlighted a growing sentiment among the public that if no party is offering a remotely better proposal than the ANC, voters might as well stay home or default to the ruling party.
Shilowa strongly pushed back against this notion, urging citizens not to stay at home. “Every vote counts,” he asserted, emphasizing that the democratic right to vote must be exercised.
A Call for Municipal-Specific Plans
In the final weeks leading up to the polls, Shilowa is calling on political parties to transition from broad generalities to highly specific, municipal-level plans. He wants to see exact commitments, such as the specific kilometers of roads to be built in Johannesburg, or tailored turnaround strategies for Nelson Mandela Bay and Mangaung.
Ultimately, Shilowa advised voters to rigorously interrogate the mayoral candidates on their ballots. He urged the public to look past the gimmicks and demand to know which candidates are genuinely committed to staying the course in local government, regardless of whether they win the mayoral seat.
