DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — Making its first appearance in the 2026 Local Government Elections, the African Economic Freedom (AEF) is campaigning heavily on black economic empowerment and strict municipal budget oversight.
Established in 2023, the AEF is present in all nine provinces but is strategically contesting only four key regions for this election. In Gauteng, the party is targeting the City of Johannesburg and Sedibeng. In Mpumalanga, they are contesting Ehlanzeni. In KwaZulu-Natal, their focus includes eThekwini, Harry Gwala, Ilembe, Zululand, and several other municipalities.
Party president Sifiso Mthethwa emphasized that while South Africans achieved political freedom in 1994, the economy remains disproportionately controlled, leaving black and disadvantaged communities struggling. The AEF’s core mission is to fight for true economic freedom, specifically by developing and educating small business owners and disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
However, Mthethwa stressed that economic empowerment at the local government level is impossible without functional service delivery. He criticized current municipal leadership, arguing that many politicians do not understand local government administration or budgeting, which allows officials to abuse state resources and miss service delivery targets for water, electricity, sanitation, and housing.
To combat this, the AEF is implementing a rigorous internal training program for its candidates. Mthethwa explained that the party is actively training its councilors on municipal systems, structures, and local government laws.
“We need to make sure that we monitor every process when it comes to the budget,” Mthethwa said. He emphasized that politicians must act as the true bosses of municipal officials, ensuring that funds budgeted for specific projects are actually spent on those exact deliverables. By fielding councilors who deeply understand how to monitor officials and enforce budget compliance, the AEF aims to ensure that resources are used properly to uplift disadvantaged communities.
