BLOEMFONTEIN, FREE STATE — The African Content Movement (ACM) has outlined its strategic priorities for the 2026 Local Government Elections, focusing heavily on basic service delivery and municipal financial independence as the primary draw for voters. With the municipal polls just 10 days away, the party is leveraging local frustrations to convert community concerns into council seats across a crowded ballot of over 500 competing parties.
Party leader Hlaudi Motsoeneng confirmed that the ACM is contesting eight municipalities in Limpopo, comprising six local municipalities and two district municipalities. The party’s value proposition is deeply rooted in addressing severe infrastructure and service delivery failures. Motsoeneng highlighted critical issues in areas like Polokwane and Sekhukhune, noting that residents are still drinking contaminated water alongside animals. He cited the tragic loss of four children in Polokwane due to contaminated municipal water, promising that an ACM-led council would immediately prioritize clean water provision.
Beyond water, the ACM’s platform targets deteriorating infrastructure. Motsoeneng criticized municipalities for allowing residents to “swim in potholes” and described Polokwane as a “dark city” due to non-functional streetlights for the past four years. He took aim at municipal spending priorities, pointing out that R15 million was allocated to festive lights and R2 million to MCs for a festival, while basic services were neglected. He pledged to immediately redirect the municipal budget toward essential services if the party takes over.
In the Free State, the ACM is contesting municipalities falling under the Mangaung metropolitan area and the surrounding district. Motsoeneng criticized the previous administration for relocating the municipal fleet to Bloemfontein, leaving Mangaung without essential vehicles. He also prioritized the revival of “white elephant” factories to tackle unemployment, arguing that job creation is the most effective way to reduce crime.
Addressing municipal financial sustainability, Motsoeneng noted that the new financial year budget for the municipality is R2.7 billion, which he argues is insufficient to run the area since employee salaries are currently reliant on national treasury grants. He plans to prioritize generating independent municipal revenue, drawing on his past experience where he allegedly helped raise the SABC’s revenue from R4 billion to R8 billion by engaging private investors.
When questioned about the party’s poor showing and the voters’ expressed lack of confidence during the 2024 national government elections, Motsoeneng dismissed the past results. He stated that he “was not serious at that time” and was merely keeping himself busy, but insisted that he is highly strategic and “very serious” now, claiming that voters in the Free State are eager for the ACM to take over.
