BUSHBUCKRIDGE, Mpumalanga — The battle for control of the Bushbuckridge municipality is intensifying as political parties make their final push for voter support ahead of the local government elections. Leading this charge in Agincourt village is the African People’s Convention (APC), which is conducting a comprehensive door-to-door campaign to convince residents to vote them into power.
The APC is currently one of the roughly 10 political parties represented in the Bushbuckridge local municipality council, holding two seats. With several new political formations also contesting the space, the party is leveraging its local roots—its president hails from Agincourt—to build momentum and expand its footprint in the region.
Participatory Budgeting and Merit-Based Leadership
Speaking on the party’s approach to the upcoming local government elections, APC national spokesperson Freddy Mbhandze emphasized a shift toward community-driven governance.
Freddy Mbhandze outlined the APC’s commitment to “participatory budgeting,” a policy that would allocate 20% of the municipal budget directly to different wards. This initiative is designed to allow communities to actively identify and prioritize their own needs, transforming residents from passive recipients of services into active participants in local governance.
Addressing widespread voter frustration, the spokesperson also highlighted the party’s strict stance on ethical leadership. Freddy Mbhandze stated that the APC has “zero tolerance for corruption” and advocates for a “government of all talent.” The party plans to field mayoral candidates with strong managerial skills and political leadership, ensuring that municipal appointments are based on merit and proper qualifications rather than political nepotism. This directly challenges the current practice, according to the APC, where short-term municipal jobs are disproportionately awarded to voting comrades of the majority party.
Addressing Local Service Delivery Challenges
The APC’s campaign comes at a critical time for Bushbuckridge residents, who have voiced numerous grievances regarding local service delivery. Freddy Mbhandze noted that a lack of effective leadership has led to severe infrastructure and maintenance issues.
Residents have reportedly been forced to take matters into their own hands, recently building a bridge themselves due to municipal inaction. Furthermore, the APC highlighted severe neglect in basic services, including water shortages and the failure to grade or clear streets, particularly those providing access to cemeteries, schools, and clinics. The party accused current leadership of “milking the municipality” through a corrupt tender system that awards contracts to friends.
Criticism of Last-Minute Electoral Projects
As the elections draw near, the APC has also criticized the current administration for what it describes as opportunistic, last-minute infrastructure announcements. Freddy Mbhandze pointed out that just three weeks before the election, the ruling majority announced multi-million-rand water pipeline projects. The APC argues that these sudden projects are not genuine developmental milestones, but rather political tactics that will ultimately place an unfair financial burden on the incoming council.
With the final days of the campaign underway, the APC is moving aggressively through Bushbuckridge, offering itself as a clean, consultative alternative. The party promises that if given the chance to govern, it will ensure that residents finally enjoy the fruits of their votes after feeling unprioritized for the past three decades.
