SOUTH AFRICA — As political parties finalize their manifestos ahead of the highly contested 2026 local government elections, the focus has sharply turned to basic service delivery, infrastructure development, and aggressive territorial campaigning. Political analyst Dr. Levy Ndou recently unpacked the strategic commitments of various parties, highlighting how the Auditor-General’s recent report on municipal performance is shaping the electoral landscape just under three weeks before voters head to the polls.
Al Jama Focuses on Basic Services and Citizen Safety
Following a recent studio appearance outlining their plans, Al Jama has centered its campaign heavily on the Public Protector’s report and recent Constitutional Court judgments regarding service delivery.
According to Dr. Ndou, the party’s approach is deeply informed by the Auditor-General’s latest findings on local government performance. “They need to come up with solutions on how they have to deal with the concerns that were raised by the Auditor-General,” Dr. Ndou explained.
Al Jama brings a distinct track record to the elections, having previously tested its presence in the Johannesburg council with its leader, Khan Hendries, serving as the city’s mayor. While the party has spent time on the national opposition benches, Dr. Ndou noted that their time in government allowed them to identify municipal challenges and develop practical solutions.
Key promises in the Al Jama manifesto include:
Enhanced Citizen Safety: Addressing the high rates of violent crime and murders that concern ordinary citizens.
Infrastructure and Transport: Improving basic transportation and overall infrastructural development.
Climate Resilience: Developing actionable plans to help communities adapt to and mitigate climate-related challenges.
Dr. Ndou also highlighted Al Jama’s strong reputation in coalition politics. “They have got a good track record when it comes to how they relate with other political parties… [they] would stick to the principles and the relations that they’ve created,” he noted. Although the party previously argued they were removed from the mayoral office before being given sufficient space to enact change, Dr. Ndou believes their established track record and focus on the hearts of ordinary citizens work to their advantage.
ACM Targets the Free State with Decisive Leadership Promises
In the Free State, the ACM, led by Claudi Mutan, is directing its energy toward the TWA area, specifically the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality. Mutan has expressed strong confidence that his party will secure over 51% of the vote in the region.
The ACM’s manifesto heavily targets the lack of leadership that has resulted in communities losing access to basic water and electricity. Dr. Ndou pointed out a unique aspect of Mutan’s leadership style: the ACM leader has described himself as the “beginning and the end” in the party’s decision-making. While some may view this as undemocratic, Dr. Ndou interpreted it as a promise of swift, decisive action against wrongdoing.
Referencing his past role at the SABC, Mutan has made bold financial and administrative commitments to the people of Maluti-a-Phofung. He has promised to increase the municipality’s R2 billion budget by over R4 billion and guaranteed that the ongoing water supply crises will be halted. Furthermore, Mutan committed to taking his development plans directly to the President to ensure rapid implementation.
ANC, DA, and EFF Target Opposition Strongholds
With the election date looming, major political parties are strategically crossing into opposition strongholds to garner maximum support.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is campaigning heavily in Johannesburg, aiming to wrest control of the city from the ANC and secure an outright majority. In a direct counter-strategy, the African National Congress (ANC) has taken its campaign to the Western Cape, specifically Cape Town. The ANC president has publicly stated the party’s eagerness to take the Western Cape away from the DA.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have launched a strategic push in the Free State. Dr. Ndou noted that this move is highly tactical due to recent municipal demarcation changes. By mobilizing in this specific area, the EFF aims to capitalize on voter uncertainty regarding new voting districts, ensuring that confused voters are mobilized and directed to vote for the EFF.
As the 2026 local government elections draw near, Dr. Ndou emphasized that while all parties are promising to address the core issues of basic services and governance, the ultimate test will be their ability to implement these promises once in office.
