JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the Johannesburg Local Government Elections approach, the People’s Movement for Change (PMC) is positioning itself as a formidable contender in South Africa’s economic hub. Curt Van Heerden, the party’s mayoral candidate, expresses strong optimism that his grassroots-focused party will be the “surprise factor” in the upcoming polls, challenging traditional political heavyweights with a vision rooted in community activism and systemic reform.
In a recent discussion regarding the upcoming electoral cycle, Van Heerden highlighted the PMC’s mission to break the political deadlock that has seen the city experience a “revolving door” of mayors. Rather than seeking short-term political gains, the candidate emphasized the need for a stable, long-term relationship with the citizens of Johannesburg.
From Community Activism to Political Leadership
Van Heerden’s entry into politics is deeply rooted in over a decade of grassroots activism, specifically focusing on drug addiction recovery. Having run a rehabilitation center for more than 10 years, his transition from community activist to mayoral candidate was catalyzed by the limitations he faced when trying to help victims from the outside.
The turning point occurred after a viral video surfaced showing a four-year-old boy being taught to smoke Mandrax. When Van Heerden attempted to intervene through the South African Police Service (SAPS), he discovered a deeply fractured justice system where children’s cases were failing to make it through the courts.
“I realized that I can, for the rest of my life, stand on the outside of the system trying to fix it, but I have to now get onto the inside of this broken system and try and fix it,” Van Heerden explained. He views politics not as a career move, but as the necessary link to empower and advance the community work he has already been doing.
A Vision for Systemic Re-engineering
When asked about his primary agenda for the city, the PMC candidate stressed that change must begin with changing the people driving it. “You cannot fix a problem with the people that are creating it,” he noted, calling for a complete reimagining of the city’s leadership.
His immediate legislative and administrative goal is to investigate the systemic toxicity within local government. Specifically, he pointed out that only 9.6% of the national fiscus is allocated to local government, which he argues is insufficient to resolve the city’s service delivery problems. His first order of business would be to understand these financial and structural bottlenecks and re-engineer the system through visionary leadership.
Furthermore, Van Heerden outlined a unique structural goal for the PMC: reversing the traditional political ratio. The party aims for its makeup to consist of 90% individuals from civil society organizations and only 10% traditional politicians.
Coalition Dynamics and Grassroots Support
Acknowledging the reality of South Africa’s fractured political landscape, where smaller parties often act as kingmakers, Van Heerden maintained a pragmatic approach to coalitions. While the PMC wants to be “big enough to sit on the main table,” the candidate affirmed that ego will not dictate their partnerships. If it benefits the residents of Johannesburg, he stated, the party is willing to work with anyone, including those who have previously contributed to the city’s decline.
Despite being a new player in the electoral space, Van Heerden believes the PMC has massive, underlying support. This grassroots momentum was visibly echoed by Lawrence, a young local resident who interacted with the candidate during the broadcast. Lawrence noted that he actively follows the PMC’s community movements, specifically praising their initiatives in setting up community guards to protect neighborhoods.
For the People’s Movement for Change, the upcoming Local Government Elections represent more than just a bid for power; they are a strategic push to bring civil society directly into the halls of government to restore public confidence and rebuild the heart of Johannesburg.
