JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the November 4 local government elections approach, MK Party Johannesburg mayoral candidate Bongani Baloyi is leveraging his executive experience to promise a complete turnaround for the metro, pledging to stabilize municipal finances, improve visible service delivery, and root out an estimated R4.3 billion in hidden corruption.
A “Plug and Play” Approach to Governance
Baloyi, who previously served as the Democratic Alliance mayor for the Midvaal municipality, enters the Joburg race highlighting a decade of executive experience, including eight years as mayor and eight consecutive clean audits. Under his leadership, Midvaal moved from the top 16 to the top five municipalities in the country, attracting significant private sector and industrial investment.
Addressing concerns about transitioning from a smaller municipality to the country’s largest and most complex metro, Baloyi argued that the core principles of governance remain universal.
“Governance is governance. The rich body of literature about governance does not distinguish between complex, big, and small; it just gives you the principles and how you apply them,” Baloyi explained. He described himself as a “plug and play” candidate who understands the heavily regulated legal expectations of local government and is ready to steer the city in the right direction.
He also took aim at his political rivals, criticizing the city’s history of fielding “speculative candidates” with no proven track record, famously noting that some current members of the mayoral committee (MMCs) are “MMCs by day and DJs by night.”
Polling, Voter Anger, and the Ground Reality
Recent polling data, including the Sabi poll, places the DA at 29.2%, the ANC at 22.6%, and the MK Party at 12% (down slightly from 13% in July). However, Baloyi dismissed these numbers as outdated, noting they were conducted before the MK Party’s late August announcement.
He pointed to the party’s grassroots strength, revealing that in the 2024 elections, the MK Party secured between 28% and 58% of the vote in roughly 30 to 40 wards and is represented in 98% of the city’s wards.
According to Baloyi, the polls fail to capture the palpable anger of Johannesburg residents. He highlighted that the city has seen a “revolving door” of six mayors in a single term, which has worsened material living conditions and pushed visible service delivery to an all-time low. Consequently, he noted a high determination among citizens to vote and demand accountability.
Party Stability and Leadership Accountability
Addressing questions regarding internal instability within the MK Party, Baloyi maintained that provincial structures remain secure. He noted that the party’s legislatures in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga are stable and well-represented.
He attributed national-level friction to external sabotage, citing testimony from the Madlanga Commission which suggested the MK Party is the most targeted political party. He alleged there is an intentional narrative designed to destabilize the party at the highest level to prevent them from securing the national presidency in 2029.
Despite national headlines, Baloyi assured residents of his personal accountability. He stated that the party’s leadership has made it clear: if he fails to deliver or if residents’ lives do not improve, he will be dealt with decisively and recalled.
First 100 Days: Financial Stabilization and Corruption Crackdown
Outlining his priorities for the first 100 days in office, Baloyi said his immediate focus would be establishing the true financial position of the city and tabling a credible adjustment budget. This involves minimizing unnecessary expenditure to free up revenue for repairs and maintenance.
Aligning with recent National Treasury directives, he emphasized reinvesting funds directly into water and electricity infrastructure, rather than cross-subsidizing other areas to the detriment of residents.
Furthermore, Baloyi promised a ruthless crackdown on corruption. He revealed that the city is currently sitting on R4.3 billion worth of hidden corruption reports, which he alleges are being concealed to protect current political and coalition leaders. He issued a direct appeal to the city’s employees to report wrongdoing before the November 4 elections, warning that the current administration will soon be out of power.
Updates on the MK Party President’s Health
When asked about the health of the MK Party president, a former statesman who recently requested privacy, Baloyi offered reassurances. He asked the public to give the elderly leader time to recover, acknowledging his immense sacrifices for the country’s liberation over a busy and demanding schedule.
Baloyi expressed hope that the party president would recover fully and join the campaign trail, noting that the former leader has correctly deployed capable leaders like himself to execute the party’s mandate while he recovers.
