JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the countdown to the 2026 Local Government Elections accelerates, Floyd Shivambu remains notably silent regarding a potential Johannesburg mayoral bid, even as his Afrika Mayibuye Movement (AMM) officially unveils its comprehensive national election strategy and policy promises.
Stepping into the political arena against a backdrop of widespread resident disillusionment with municipal governance, the party has pledged to prioritize improved service delivery, enhanced public safety, and more efficient revenue collection. With just a few months remaining before voters head to the polls, the movement has announced its ambitious intention to contest elections across all of the country’s 4,000-plus wards.
During the campaign launch, the party did not hold back in its criticism of the current administration’s financial management. Addressing the recent withholding of equitable shares from major metros like Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, Shivambu accused the National Treasury of political maneuvering rather than prioritizing the needs of the citizens.
“We note that for political convenience, the National Treasury has now decided to release the equitable shares or the budgets in municipalities which were not meeting the minimum requirements,” Shivambu stated. He argued that the sudden release of withheld funds to underperforming municipalities was done strictly for “political opportunism because of elections,” rather than a genuine commitment to service delivery.
Despite unveiling a broad national vision and confirming that the party utilized a rigorous consultative process to identify its ward councilors, party officials are keeping their cards close to their chests regarding specific mayoral candidates for Johannesburg and other key municipalities.
Addressing the intense speculation around leadership roles, Afrika Mayibuye Movement Secretary General Lazola Ndamase offered a pointed critique of other prominent political figures stepping down to local municipal levels.
“So-called leaders of certain parties decide to become mayoral candidates in a city. It means they’ve accepted they will never run the country,” Ndamase said, adding that such moves are a “tacit admission” that effectively reduces their political scope to a mere “local organization.”
Deflecting questions about Shivambu taking on a municipal role, Ndamase firmly clarified the party’s hierarchy: “Our president is the president of the organization and is our presidential candidate.”
While voters will have to wait for official candidate lists, the party’s policy focus on the City of Gold is already clear. Shivambu described Johannesburg as a metropolitan area that has yet to reach its full potential, specifically highlighting the urgent need to ensure universal access to clean water and adequate ablution systems for all residents.
The electorate will get a much more detailed look at the party’s blueprint next month, when the Afrika Mayibuye Movement is scheduled to officially release its full manifesto in Ekurhuleni.
