RUSTENBURG, NORTH WEST — Leading up to the 2026 Local Government Elections in the North West, the African Revolutionary Council (ARC) has pledged a radical overhaul of municipal service delivery, focusing on eradicating the tender system to combat local corruption.
The party is set to contest in eight municipalities across the province. Despite facing the financial constraints typical of new political entrants, the African Revolutionary Council is confident it will garner sufficient voter support to influence local council decisions.
Lucky Kgabi, President of the African Revolutionary Council, stated that the party is committed to abolishing the tender system, which he identifies as the central hub of municipal corruption. Instead, the party plans to insource services and build internal capacity within municipalities to deliver what communities require. Kgabi emphasized a “people-centered” approach, asserting that no development will be executed without the active contribution of the residents. Furthermore, the party’s manifesto prioritizes the maintenance of existing infrastructure over the pursuit of new, costly projects, ensuring that quality and better services are immediately restored to the people.
Broader Electoral Context and Expert Analysis
The African Revolutionary Council’s anti-tender stance directly addresses the current crisis in the province, where municipalities are experiencing a collapse of basic services due to allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and political instability. The North West region is made up of 22 municipalities, encompassing four districts and 18 local municipalities.
Voters will have a wide array of choices on November 4, 2026, as more than 70 political parties and over 50 independent candidates prepare to contest the elections.
Providing insight into the post-election landscape, a local government expert from North-West University predicted that the results will likely yield hung councils. According to the analyst, in such a scenario, new and smaller political entrants are expected to act as kingmakers. This strategic position would inevitably grant these smaller parties significant leverage and access to power within the municipal councils.
