JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG — As South African local government elections approach, voters are increasingly looking to see what smaller political parties and independent candidates can realistically deliver beyond a mere protest vote. In a recent multi-party roundtable, mayoral candidates from across six major municipalities outlined their concrete strategies for improving municipal service delivery, tackling severe unemployment, and ensuring accountable leadership.
Economic Development and Housing in Gauteng
In Johannesburg, Rali Mampuele, mayoral candidate for MoveSA, emphasized moving away from ideological politics to focus on “bread and butter” issues. Highlighting his private sector background—where his investments facilitated 68,000 land housing opportunities and connected over 500,000 households to the internet—Mampuele proposed building new infrastructure similar to Waterfall City and upgrading areas like Um Alexander. He stressed the urgent need to pay the over R14 billion owed to entrepreneurs nationwide to stimulate job creation, noting that residents currently spend 40% of their income on transport while living 40 kilometers from their workplaces.
Meanwhile, in Ekurhuleni, Sakhile Mginqi of the National Freedom Party (NFP) identified the city’s 36% unemployment rate as the critical challenge. Mginqi proposed revitalizing the city’s manufacturing sector—which currently contributes about 23% to the local GDP—by cutting red tape and reducing business rent rates to attract investment. Addressing internal leadership disputes within the NFP, Mginqi assured voters that the party strictly follows its constitution, relying on outsourced legal tribunals rather than informal processes to resolve conflicts.
Service Delivery, Safety, and Revenue Enhancement
In Tshwane, EcoForum President Bafana Langa, whose party is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, advocated for a 24-hour economy and the localization of production and labor. Langa also addressed severe water crises in Hammanskraal and Bronkhorstspruit, alleging a “water mafia” and calling for a review of coalition treaties to ensure effective service delivery.
In Mangaung, Nako Ramatsoko of the African Congress for Transformation (ACT) focused on professionalizing the municipality through skilled appointments. Ramatsoko outlined a 90-day plan featuring a revenue enhancement strategy, the collection of traffic law enforcement fees, and the reversal of road testing center privatization. He also proposed establishing a metro police force equipped with cameras for rapid crime response and the revitalization of factories in Botshabelo to boost local employment.
Systemic Transformation and Accountability
In eThekwini, Vusi Khoza of Afrika Mayibuye Movement (AMM) positioned his group as a 21st-century liberation movement comprising members from diverse backgrounds. Khoza outlined seven key interventions, including massive industrialization to replace the tender system and eliminating the “water tanker mafia.” Notably, he proposed redirecting the R450 million annually spent on VIP political protection directly toward service delivery, arguing that public funds must benefit ordinary residents.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, SACP mayoral candidate Zanoxolo Wayile emphasized people-centered development. Drawing on the party’s 105-year history and his previous experience as an ANC mayor, Wayile warned against the commodification and privatization of basic services. He called for a comprehensive turnaround plan that requires buy-in from civil society, business, and trade unions to untether the municipality from unscrupulous politicians and officials.
Voter Concerns and the Path Forward
The discussion also highlighted pressing voter concerns, particularly regarding youth unemployment, which reached 47.4% in the second quarter of 2026. Callers to the broadcast urged the parties to provide measurable changes and support for small businesses. One caller from Durban praised candidates with private sector experience, arguing that practical entrepreneurial success should be transitioned into public sector management, while heavily criticizing the practice of cadre deployment.
As the elections draw nearer, the roundtable underscored the complex reality of coalition politics. With smaller parties potentially holding the balance of power, the focus has shifted from mere election night victories to post-election governance, accountability, and the ability to forge trust-based coalitions that deliver tangible, everyday results for residents.
