JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has officially unveiled Deputy President Wayne Thring as its eThekwini mayoral candidate, anchoring its local government election campaign on a strict zero-tolerance approach to corruption and a commitment to merit-based municipal appointments. Speaking at the launch of the party’s manifesto in Johannesburg, Thring outlined a comprehensive strategy to address systemic governance failures, highlighting billions of rands in irregular expenditure across major metros.
Central to the ACDP’s campaign is the staggering R4.6 billion in irregular expenditure recorded in the eThekwini Municipality—a figure Thring notes accounts for approximately 57% of KwaZulu-Natal’s total municipal irregular spending. Citing data from the Auditor General, Thring emphasized that while municipal officials often attribute these breaches to administrative non-compliance with supply chain and municipal finance acts rather than outright theft, the lack of accountability remains unacceptable. If elected, Thring has committed to launching an independent forensic audit to investigate fruitless, wasteful, and irregular spending, ensuring that no stone is left unturned.
The “Jethro Principle” vs. Cadre Deployment
To combat municipal mismanagement, the party is championing the “Jethro principle,” a model of selecting capable, trustworthy, and qualified individuals over political “cadre deployment.” Thring argued that appointing individuals unfit for purpose—such as municipal managers unable to read basic financial ledgers—leaves municipalities vulnerable to abuse and systemic collapse.
He pointed to the ACDP’s clean track record and past coalition successes as proof of competent governance. According to Thring, the party previously saved the City of Tshwane R2 billion during a coalition tenure and successfully transformed rubbish dumps into green playing fields in Nelson Mandela Bay under the administration of an ACDP councillor.
Targeting Core Service Delivery Crises
Beyond anti-corruption rhetoric, the eThekwini mayoral candidate outlined measurable service delivery targets, focusing heavily on the city’s water and electricity crises. Currently, an estimated 60% of eThekwini’s water is lost to burst pipes, aging infrastructure, and leaks before it ever reaches residents’ taps.
The ACDP plans to tackle this by ensuring the municipality hires properly qualified water engineers, plumbers, and technicians who understand the technical requirements of pump stations and generators. Furthermore, the party pledged to ring-fence capital expenditure funds specifically for water and electrical infrastructure maintenance to mitigate the impacts of aging grids and load reduction.
Addressing Historical Voter Stagnation
Addressing questions regarding the ACDP’s historical struggle to grow its voter base beyond 1%—despite roughly 80% of South Africans identifying as Christian—Thring attributed the stagnation to the legacy of floor-crossing legislation (which ended in 2009) and historical church teachings that discouraged mixing faith with politics.
However, he expressed optimism that the party is finally breaking ground as voters seek ethical alternatives. Currently holding only two to three councillors in eThekwini, the ACDP is targeting a minimum of 10 to 15 seats in the upcoming polls. Thring noted that the party, which has been in existence and active in government structures since 1994, is seeing doors open as faith-based communities realize the need for political representation aligned with their values.
A Serious Bid to Govern
As the November 4 local government elections approach, Thring dismissed the notion that his candidacy is merely a vehicle to gain coalition leverage or secure a seat on the Mayoral Committee (MMC). Instead, he positioned the ACDP as a serious contender with a distinct vision to govern based on universal Judeo-Christian values of righteousness, justice, honesty, and transparency.
“Any political party that exists and doesn’t have the vision to govern is not really serious,” Thring stated, reaffirming the party’s commitment to applying these foundational principles at the local government level to benefit residents of all walks of life and faiths.
