ActionSA manifesto vows to fix broken municipalities – but will it work with other parties? - IOL

ActionSA president Herman Mashaba launched the party’s 2026 local government elections manifesto in Johannesburg on Saturday.

ActionSA has unveiled its manifesto for the 2026 local government elections. 

The campaign, unveiled on Saturday by party president and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba, centres around the restoration of basic services, financial management, professional municipal administrations and community safety.

Speaking in Johannesburg on Saturday, Mashaba said ActionSA was “declaring war” on what he described as the collapse of local government, which has led to deteriorating infrastructure, unreliable water and electricity supplies, poor roads, crime and corruption.

“Across South Africa, residents are witnessing their municipalities collapse around them,” Mashaba said, citing deteriorating roads, unreliable water and electricity supplies, safety concerns and declining basic services.

“This is not just a Johannesburg problem. It is a South African problem,” he said.

The manifesto sets out nine broad priorities, including reliable basic services, improved financial management, professional municipal administrations, anti-corruption measures, safer communities, economic development, more inclusive services and cleaner, more resilient municipalities.

Regarding basic services, the party says municipalities should prioritise reliable water and electricity, road maintenance, sewage infrastructure and refuse collection.

“A municipality cannot deliver reliable services if it cannot manage its finances properly,” Mashaba said.

ActionSA also said it would introduce credible, fully funded budgets, improve revenue collection and metering, strengthen billing systems and implement financial recovery plans. Furthermore, it proposes reducing what it regards as unnecessary political staffing, with municipal appointments based on “qualifications, competence, experience and merit”.

To that end, officials would be expected to meet defined performance standards and be held accountable for failing to deliver, according to the manifesto.

Corruption and procurement are also in the spotlight, with the party promising greater transparency around tenders and contracts, investigations into suspicious conduct and protection for whistle-blowers.

“Every rand stolen through fraud, inflated contracts or dishonest officials is a rand that cannot be spent fixing roads, maintaining water infrastructure or delivering the services people depend on,” Mashaba said.

On the safety front, the party proposes putting more municipal law-enforcement officers on the streets and targeting infrastructure theft, illegal connections, hijacked buildings and criminal syndicates.

The manifesto also calls for municipalities to use their lawful powers to address illegal immigration, while working with the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service where national enforcement powers are required.

ActionSA says it would seek to make municipalities more business-friendly by reducing red tape, setting turnaround times for approvals and improving access to municipal opportunities for small businesses.

It also proposes measures aimed at supporting young people with skills and work opportunities, as well as revitalising central business districts and town centres.

As for housing, the party promises to upgrade informal settlements where appropriate, and provide faster delivery of title deeds and greater use of municipal land for affordable housing.

It also wants improved public transport links and better-maintained libraries, parks, sports facilities and other community spaces.

On the environment, ActionSA says municipalities should tackle illegal dumping, expand recycling and work with waste pickers, businesses and communities to reduce waste going to landfill.

But what about potential coalitions? On that subject, ActionSA says it will not enter pre-election coalitions.

Mashaba added that any post-election coalition would need to be based on a clear programme of government, defined responsibilities and accountability.

“Coalition government cannot be about politicians dividing up positions while residents are left waiting for services,” he said. “It must be about putting the work of government first.”

ActionSA says its councillors would be expected to scrutinise municipal spending, challenge poor service delivery and report back to residents whether the party is in government, part of a coalition or in opposition.

However, he also acknowledged that turning around struggling municipalities would not happen immediately.

“We will not pretend that every problem can be fixed overnight,” he said. “But we can start fixing what is broken.”

ActionSA is contesting the November 4 local government elections in dozens of municipalities as it seeks to expand its presence beyond the municipalities where it currently has representation.

The manifesto launch comes as political parties prepare their campaigns for an election in which coalition government is expected to remain an important issue in municipalities where no party secures an outright majority.