JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the November 4 elections approach, the African National Congress (ANC) has officially unveiled its 2026 local government election manifesto, with ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula leading the charge to reassure the electorate. Acknowledging past service delivery failures, the party is asking voters for another chance to turn around failing municipalities through a pragmatic, action-oriented plan focused on infrastructure upgrades, housing, and strict fiscal responsibility.
During the manifesto rollout, Fikile Mbalula openly admitted that the party has made “dire and costly” mistakes over its decades-long tenure in certain municipalities. However, he staunchly defended the ANC’s historical track record, arguing that service delivery was notably stronger when the party governed alone, citing Johannesburg as a prime example of effective management. He attributed recent deteriorations in areas like eMalahleni to the mismanagement and governance challenges of subsequent coalition administrations. To prevent future recurrences, Mbalula emphasized that the ANC is now rigorously vetting its mayoral candidates based on merit, formal qualifications, and the proven capability to manage sophisticated local economies, moving away from past deployment practices.
A core pillar of the 2026 local government election manifesto is the urgent rehabilitation of bulk infrastructure. Mbalula highlighted that 11 major water bulk infrastructure projects, including critical upgrades in the Vaal and Lesotho Highlands, are currently being implemented to resolve ongoing water supply interruptions and reduce the estimated 70% of water lost to leaks. He also addressed the rapid, institutionalized expansion of urbanization and informal settlements around major hubs like Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. The ANC plans to tackle this by formally upgrading these settlements and utilizing land expropriation laws to redistribute usable, non-state land for service delivery. This approach aims to bypass bureaucratic hurdles and address inner-city criminality and housing backlogs without external interference.
Addressing the severe financial strain on local governments, the ANC has vowed to cut municipal debt by 30%. Mbalula explained that this financial recovery will be achieved not by raising rates for the poor, but by enforcing a “social compact.” This strategy requires those who can afford to pay for municipal services to do so, while simultaneously clamping down on the billions of rands lost annually to fruitless and wasteful expenditure. He noted that equitable financial shares from the national government will remain crucial for supporting non-revenue-generating municipalities.
Responding to sharp public criticism regarding corruption, nepotism, and unmet promises, Mbalula pointed to the party’s measurable historical achievements. He cited the delivery of approximately 451,000 houses at the local government level between 2021 and 2026, and the massive expansion of electricity access from under 40% to over 90% since 1994. When pressed on why service delivery complaints persist, he attributed recent electoral setbacks to low voter turnout and a dampened political climate, urging citizens to participate, as higher voter turnout historically favors the ANC.
With less than 72 days remaining until the polls open, the ANC’s 2026 local government election manifesto represents a critical strategic pivot. By combining a candid admission of past weaknesses with a detailed, reality-based roadmap for municipal recovery, Fikile Mbalula and the party leadership are betting that a renewed focus on qualified governance and tangible service delivery will win back the trust of South African voters.
