JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the November 4 polls rapidly approach, the African National Congress has formally launched its ANC 2026 local government election manifesto, presenting a comprehensive strategy to rescue failing municipalities across South Africa. Leading the rollout, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula openly acknowledged the party’s historical service delivery shortcomings while appealing directly to the electorate for a renewed mandate to implement corrective, reality-based governance.
At the core of the party’s renewed fiscal strategy is a firm commitment to slash municipal debt by 30%. Mbalula explained that this financial recovery will not be achieved by burdening the poor, but rather through a strict “social compact.” This approach mandates that residents and entities capable of paying for services must do so, while the state continues to protect indigent households. Furthermore, the manifesto targets the billions of rands lost annually to fruitless and wasteful expenditure, proposing that plugging these systemic leaks, alongside equitable financial transfers from the national government, will stabilize non-revenue-generating local authorities.
Addressing the critical state of basic services, the ANC highlighted aggressive interventions in bulk infrastructure. Mbalula noted that 11 major water projects, including vital upgrades in the Vaal and Lesotho Highlands, are currently underway. These initiatives aim to resolve persistent supply interruptions and combat the staggering 70% of potable water currently lost to leaks. The manifesto also confronts the rapid, institutionalized expansion of urbanization. Citing new informal settlements stretching from Orange Farm to the N1 highway near Bloemfontein, the party pledged to accelerate the upgrading of these areas, permanently eliminate bucket sanitation systems, and utilize land expropriation laws to redistribute usable, non-state land. This legal framework, Mbalula argued, is essential for reclaiming derelict inner-city buildings from criminal syndicates without being hindered by external bureaucratic obstacles.
When defending the party’s governance record, Mbalula drew a sharp distinction between sole ANC leadership and coalition administrations. He asserted that service delivery, such as pothole repairs and infrastructure maintenance, was highly effective when the ANC held a total majority, using Johannesburg as a primary example. Conversely, he pointed to municipalities like eMalahleni, arguing that governance and service delivery deteriorated significantly once control shifted to coalitions. To prevent future administrative declines, the Secretary-General emphasized a revamped, rigorous vetting process for mayoral candidates. Future deployments will prioritize formal education, proven managerial experience, and the specific capability to run sophisticated metro economies, moving away from historical patronage practices.
Responding to public skepticism regarding unmet promises, the leadership pointed to verifiable historical data. Mbalula highlighted that the party delivered approximately 451,000 houses at the local government level between 2021 and 2026. He also reminded voters that since 1994, the ANC has overseen the expansion of electricity access from under 40% to over 90% of the population, while major road networks—such as the dual carriageways and bridges along the R101 and Allandale routes in Midrand—have been transformed into thriving commercial hubs. Addressing recent electoral dips, he attributed these to a dampened political climate and low voter turnout, urging citizens to participate, as higher engagement historically favors the ruling party.
With the local government elections now less than 72 days away, the ANC’s 2026 manifesto represents a calculated effort to balance accountability with actionable policy. By coupling a candid admission of past administrative weaknesses with a detailed roadmap for fiscal discipline and infrastructure rehabilitation, Fikile Mbalula and the party leadership are positioning this election as a critical opportunity to reset the trajectory of South Africa’s local governance.
