LICHTENBURG, NORTH WEST — With the 2026 Local Government Elections in the North West on the horizon, the African Spear Movement (ASM) is campaigning on a unique infrastructure and job-creation model designed to save the province’s failing municipalities.
The party, which will contest in over 10 municipalities, was founded by Tebogo Ramashilabele, the former Speaker of the Ngaka Modiri Molema district and a former member of the ANC. Despite limited campaign resources, the party’s leadership is hopeful about making significant inroads into local councils to address pressing bread-and-butter issues.
Tebogo Ramashilabele, President of the African Spear Movement, stated that the party’s core mission is to recover and own what belongs to the people of the province. Highlighting a practical approach to infrastructure, Ramashilabele proposed eliminating the need for external tenders for road maintenance. Instead, the party plans to establish a municipal “yellow fleet” by directly employing parents and youth between the ages of 35 and 70. This dedicated workforce would be tasked with daily municipal duties, including patching potholes, maintaining roads, and fixing streetlights, thereby restoring vitality to the communities.
Broader Electoral Context and Expert Analysis
The African Spear Movement’s grassroots employment strategy is a direct response to the broader municipal crisis in the province, where basic services are collapsing under the weight of corruption, financial mismanagement, and political instability. The North West consists of 22 municipalities, divided into four districts and 18 local municipalities.
The electoral field for the November 4, 2026, vote is highly competitive, with more than 70 political parties and over 50 independent candidates expected to participate.
Analyzing the potential political shifts, a local government expert from North-West University indicated that hung councils are a very real possibility following the elections. The expert noted that this environment would elevate new political entrants to kingmaker status. Once in that position, these smaller parties would be guaranteed entry into influential levels of power within their specific municipalities.
