KWAMASHU, KwaZulu-Natal — Setting the stage for a fierce battle in the 2026 Local Government Elections, the newly announced ActionSA KZN mayoral candidates have been handed a strict mandate centered on ethical governance, infrastructure revival, and controversial immigration enforcement. Speaking to supporters at the KwaMashu Christian Centre, party leadership made it clear that their upcoming municipal campaign will prioritize South African citizens while demanding absolute financial accountability from local state institutions.
A Blueprint Built on Business Principles
ActionSA President Herman Mashaba anchored the provincial launch by drawing parallels between running a successful enterprise and managing a municipality. Reflecting on his early career, Mashaba recounted building a 6,000-square-meter factory in the Pretoria township of Mamelodi. Starting with a modest R30,000 loan, he grew the business to employ over 200 people directly without carrying any debt.
“I know how to build,” Mashaba told the crowd, emphasizing that he is leveraging his privileged position to correct the country’s trajectory. He argued that South Africa possesses more than enough wealth to eradicate poverty and squalor, provided that state funds are not squandered. He sharply criticized wasteful government expenditure, pointing to a minister who unashamedly spent R13 million on a World Cup trip while township communities lack basic football grounds. Mashaba also referenced his tenure as Johannesburg mayor, where he grappled with a 300,000-unit housing backlog, arguing that the state must care for its own citizens before attempting to “take care of the world.”
Central to Mashaba’s address was an unapologetic stance on border control. He declared that the party’s local caucuses will aggressively pressure the national government to execute mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, arguing it is unjust to expect a nation with the world’s highest unemployment rate to absorb foreign nationals.
Zero Tolerance and the 72-Hour Rule
To combat the deep-seated corruption plaguing KwaZulu-Natal, Mashaba highlighted the party’s rapid-response disciplinary measures. He cited a recent case involving an ActionSA executive mayor in the City of Tshwane and an MMC whose name emerged during the Madlanga Commission. According to Mashaba, the implicated MMC was suspended within hours of the evidence surfacing, and her party membership was permanently terminated within 72 hours.
eThekwini: Reviving Stalled Megaprojects
For the eThekwini Metro, the party has deployed Zwakele Mncwango to lead their electoral charge. Mncwango’s strategy relies heavily on restoring municipal stability and insourcing critical services to ensure transparency.
A major focal point for Mncwango is the municipality’s troubled public transport network. He pledged that within his first 30 days in office, he would convene stakeholders to investigate the Go! Durban project, which has already absorbed over R9.5 billion in public funds yet continues to feature decaying stations and incomplete roads.
Mncwango also addressed eThekwini’s catastrophic water management, noting an unacceptable 58% water loss rate. He pointed to the recent tragic death of a member of the Zondo family—a casualty linked to severe water service challenges—as a grim reminder of the metro’s failures.
Acknowledging the high probability of hung councils after the 2026 Local Government Elections, Mncwango laid out five strict “non-negotiables” for any potential coalition partners:
- Uncompromised delivery of basic services.
- Absolute financial stability.
- The insourcing of municipal functions to prevent tender abuse.
- Placing illegal immigration at the center of local governance.
- Aggressive, localized economic growth.
“We are not looking for policy alignment; we are looking for governance stability,” Mncwango noted, warning prospective partners not to attempt negotiating these foundational pillars.
KwaDukuza: Taking on the ‘Tanker Mafia’ and Power Users
In KwaDukuza, mayoral candidate Halalisani Ndlovu has been tasked with reversing severe municipal decay and rebuilding public trust. Ndlovu highlighted a staggering R400 million in energy losses recorded in a single quarter. He criticized current municipal management for disproportionately targeting illegal connections in disadvantaged black communities while allowing large, non-compliant commercial power users to operate “scot-free.” Ndlovu promised a hands-on approach, stating it is time for leaders to “wear overalls” and physically cut off massive debtors to recover lost municipal revenue.
Water security remains another critical battleground in the region. Ndlovu lamented that in a rapidly growing municipality, some residents are still forced to drink from man-made holes intended for livestock. He placed the blame squarely on the “water tanker mafia” and failing district models that rely on a dilapidated infrastructure to justify lucrative tenders.
Ndlovu referenced a recent community petition aimed at protecting uMngeni Water’s competencies, arguing that local municipalities must take back in-house control of water services to eliminate the corrupt exploitation of the tender system.
Newcastle and the Path Forward
Rounding out the provincial slate is Zwe Nxumalo, who will contest the Newcastle municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The strategic focus on eThekwini, KwaDukuza, and Newcastle is highly deliberate; these three councils represent the party’s strongest historical footholds in the province. During the 2021 local government elections, ActionSA secured over 46,000 votes and captured 12 seats across these specific municipalities.
As the November elections draw nearer, ActionSA maintains that while it is fully prepared to enter into coalition agreements, it will refuse any compromises on the strict rule of law, economic prosperity, and ethical leadership.
