South African local government election manifestos

South African political parties have begun launching manifestos ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) released a manifesto in Benoni pledging a “zero-tolerance approach to corruption” and a commitment to merit-based municipal appointments. The party proposed the ‘Jethro Principle’ to replace cadre deployment, citing massive irregular expenditure in municipalities like eThekwini as a barrier to essential service delivery.

Following this, the African National Congress (ANC) launched its manifesto in Diepsloot, Johannesburg. Presented by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the document aims to address service delivery, economic development, and infrastructure limitations. The ANC leadership noted that the manifesto includes an acknowledgment of past mistakes as the party seeks to regain electoral strength amidst declining support and a highly competitive political landscape.

In the latest launch at Riverside Park, Ramaphosa expressed confidence in a victory despite the party’s recent loss of its parliamentary majority. The ANC has introduced an integrity commission and a ‘step-aside’ rule, requiring members accused of serious crimes to vacate their positions until legal cases are resolved. To ensure accountability, Ramaphosa mandated that mayors and councillors establish service delivery baselines and publish priorities within their first 100 days in office. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi added that the manifesto reflects lessons learned regarding past leadership and capacity limitations.