KUGOMPO CITY, Eastern Cape — The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has officially launched its 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE) manifesto, centering its campaign on the creation of self-sustainable municipalities. Unveiled in the Eastern Cape, the party’s blueprint outlines a comprehensive strategy to prioritize local economic development, public health care, and the establishment of crime-free communities.
UDM President Bantu Holomisa presented the official manifesto, which is structured around twelve pillars. He described these pillars as practical commitments designed to address the daily realities faced by South Africans.
Holomisa emphasized that these goals would be unattainable unless the party’s officials adopt the core values of reliable service delivery, transparency, and accountability. Local party leaders have been tasked with ensuring the establishment of stable, ethical, and capable municipalities. He noted that no municipality can succeed without residents having reliable access to basic services, including water, sanitation, electricity, roads, refuse removal, and functioning public infrastructure.
The second pillar of the manifesto focuses on clean governance and financial discipline. Holomisa stated that corruption, maladministration, and wasteful expenditure are stealing the resources that should be used to improve the lives of the people, making ethical governance a non-negotiable priority.
During the launch, UDM supporters voiced their urgent needs and expectations from the party’s leadership, highlighting the socio-economic challenges in their communities.
One supporter pointed to a severe lack of basic resources, citing an absence of RDP houses, widespread unemployment among both youth and adults, and a lack of food parcels. “We are struggling,” the supporter stated, urging the party to directly cater to their needs. “We want the general to win so he can be able to do things for us.”
Another supporter stressed the importance of unity and organizational growth over personal ambition. They warned party members against causing internal friction, urging them to focus on strengthening the movement rather than seeking personal positions. “What I expect from them is to make sure that they build the organization, at least for the coming elections we can manage to have more seats in the municipalities,” the supporter emphasized.
Addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, a third supporter called on the government to formally recognize blindness as a disability within the Eastern Cape and to create targeted job opportunities for visually impaired individuals who are currently unemployed in the province.
Beyond local governance, the UDM also addressed national concerns during the manifesto launch. The party called for the strengthening of border management and the restoration of the Department of Home Affairs’ integrity, framing these measures as critical components in the fight against undocumented immigrants.
