WELKOM, Free State — ActionSA has officially launched its historic campaign in the Free State, kicking off a comprehensive door-to-door outreach in Welkom ahead of the November 2026 local government elections. Led by Deputy President Dr. Mbahare Kekana and the party’s provincial leadership, the political movement is making its first full-scale entry into the province’s municipal races, directly targeting critical service delivery failures and soaring youth unemployment.
This campaign marks a significant milestone for ActionSA, as it is the first time the party is contesting local government elections in the Free State “coming full force.” The party has fielded candidates across several municipalities in the province, including Mangaung Metro and the Masilonyana Local Municipality. As part of the grassroots push, leadership visited the local taxi rank and residential areas like the Orange Group section in Thabong, where they unveiled the party’s very first election poster in the province.
During the campaign trail, Dr. Mbahare Kekana highlighted the stark realities observed on the ground, pointing to a severe lack of basic service delivery. The Deputy President noted widespread illegal dumping, deteriorating roads riddled with potholes, and alarming sanitation issues. In one documented case in Thabong, residents reported living with raw sewage spilling from their yards for the past three years, with multiple reports to authorities yielding no action.
“We see no service delivery. There is illegal dumping, potholes, and young people are left with no opportunities,” Dr. Kekana stated while engaging with the community. “We are here to talk to voters and say: give us a mandate. We don’t want 32 years; we just want five years so that we can deliver service to this municipality.”
Positioning ActionSA as a collaborative partner rather than “heroes,” the Deputy President outlined a clear, actionable vision for the province. A primary focus of the campaign is job creation. Dr. Kekana emphasized the need to reopen closed or non-functional factories in the Free State and to establish functioning, clean municipalities, citing the administrative improvements in eThekwini under Dr. Moya as a working model. The party pledged to ensure that residents receive reliable water access, educational opportunities, and an enabling environment designed to attract investors and sponsors.
The message has resonated with locals who expressed deep frustration over undignified living conditions. Community members, including pensioners, voiced their distress over the high unemployment rate affecting their educated children. Many residents noted that despite ensuring their children meet all qualifications and submit applications, job opportunities remain nonexistent, underscoring the urgent need for municipal environments that foster economic growth.
As the November 4 election date approaches, ActionSA plans to continue its candidate inductions and expand its street-by-street, house-to-house engagements across the province. While the true electoral impact will only be revealed once the votes are counted, the party’s aggressive grassroots strategy signals a determined effort to leave a lasting footprint and offer voters a tangible alternative for change in the Free State.
