SOWETO, Gauteng — The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) has officially launched its manifesto for the PAC 2026 local government elections, signaling a massive expansion of its political footprint ahead of the November 4, 2026, polls. Speaking at a stadium rally in Jabulani, Soweto—the party’s first stadium manifesto launch in 32 years—PAC Leader Mzwanele Nyhontso outlined a comprehensive strategy to address municipal corruption, poor service delivery, and spatial injustice.
Record-Breaking Candidate Field
Acknowledging the party’s historical decline in voter support in recent national and local elections, Nyhontso declared that the PAC is now on an “upward trajectory.” For the upcoming polls, the party is contesting a record 133 out of 257 municipalities, representing nearly 52% of all municipalities in the country.
According to Nyhontso, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has certified a total of 4,259 PAC candidates. This includes over 2,000 ward councillor candidates and 1,600 proportional representation (PR) candidates. The PAC is also fielding candidates in all of the country’s metropolitan areas, a significant leap from previous elections where they contested only 15 to 20 municipalities.
Manifesto Priorities: Accountability and Land Reform
The newly launched manifesto places a strong emphasis on holding elected officials strictly accountable. Nyhontso stated that PAC representatives will ensure municipal budgets and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) are directly translated into visible, tangible services for communities.
A core pillar of the manifesto is the decolonization of the spatial economy through systematic land redistribution for housing, education, and health. Nyhontso highlighted the link between national land reform mandates and local government execution, promising to make land available for municipalities to build clinics, roads, and infrastructure.
He specifically criticized the current governance in the City of Cape Town, arguing that “good governance” claims by the Democratic Alliance (DA) only benefit wealthy, predominantly white suburbs like Rondebosch and Goodwood, while ignoring spatial apartheid injustices in areas like District 6. He vowed that a PAC-led government would aggressively open up land for residential and informal trading purposes, paired with immediate service delivery to prevent the creation of unserviced settlements.
Internal Unity and Campaign Financing
Addressing the party’s internal stability, Nyhontso dismissed the impact of recent breakaway factions and rival groups, insisting that the PAC has “fixed its house” and resolved its internal disputes through the courts. He emphasized that the party is now united and back at the center of politics.
Regarding the financial logistics of fielding thousands of candidates, Nyhontso revealed that the campaign is entirely self-funded by party members. He noted that while the party has applied for external corporate funding, no contributions have been received yet. He used the platform to call on private funders to support democracy equally, rather than favoring select political parties.
Stance on Immigration, Crime, and Gender-Based Violence
Reaffirming the PAC’s Pan-Africanist roots, Nyhontso reiterated that “an African can never be a foreigner in Africa.” However, he clarified that this does not mean open borders for illegal immigration. He stressed that foreigners must enter and reside in South Africa legally, be properly registered, and that borders must be strengthened. He strongly condemned xenophobic vigilantism, noting that police—not civilians—must enforce immigration laws, and criticized those who target black individuals based on complexion rather than legal status.
On the issue of crime, Nyhontso offered condolences to the families of the 28 people killed in recent mass shootings over the weekend, including a devastating tavern shooting. He also shared a personal tragedy, noting his own cousin was recently murdered. To combat rampant crime, he advocated for strong collaboration between communities, street forums, and the police, citing a successful two-way radio community policing model in the Eastern Cape.
Addressing the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV), Nyhontso placed the onus on men to change their mindsets. He criticized the patriarchal conditioning of the boy child and called on men to stop treating women as subordinates. While advocating for harsher sentences and longer jail terms for GBV offenders, he insisted that the cultural shift must begin within households.
Mayoral Candidates and Coalition Politics
Looking ahead to major metropolitan contests, Nyhontso highlighted the PAC’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Thami Ka Plaatjie. He welcomed Plaatjie back to the party, praising his deep understanding of township struggles and his credentials as a historian and writer. Nyhontso sharply criticized the DA’s mayoral campaign in Johannesburg, arguing that the party relies on black votes to maintain white privilege and fails to understand the plight of township residents. He also noted that the PAC’s candidate lists feature a strong representation of young, tried-and-tested women.
When asked about post-election coalitions, Nyhontso maintained a pragmatic approach. He stated that the PAC is not arrogant and is willing to work with any political party, provided there is a principled agreement and a “minimum program” that serves the will of the people. However, he drew ideological lines, criticizing certain rival parties for allegedly undermining black interests and engaging in what he described as the continuation of racism, while maintaining that the final coalition decisions will be dictated by the voters.
