Afrika Mayibuye Launches 21 Reasons for Contesting 2026 Local Elections
TEMBISA, EKURHULENI – The Afrika Mayibuye Movement has officially launched its 21 reasons for contesting the 2026 Local Government Elections, outlining a series of proposed interventions aimed at addressing service delivery, unemployment, local economic development, water security and community safety.
The movement manifesto launch was held in Ekurhuleni on Saturday.
The movement, President Floyd Shivambu said their contesting the elections because communities such as Tembisa need a government focused on practical service delivery rather than what it described as another “season of sympathy”.
The launch comes as the movement prepares to contest the November 4 local government elections.
In his presentation, Shivambu said Ekurhuleni residents need leaders who can “repair, build, maintain, employ and account”, rather than leaders who only explain the challenges facing communities.
One of the issues raised was refuse collection and illegal dumping, which the movement said had become a persistent problem in many townships and villages.
It also placed local economic development at the centre of its campaign, arguing that townships and villages should not remain areas where residents mainly consume goods produced elsewhere.
He said municipalities should actively support manufacturing, agriculture, repair industries, local markets, tourism and technology in order to create economic opportunities within communities
Unemployment among people over the age of 35 was another issue highlighted by the movement.
Afrika Mayibuye said South Africa should not treat unemployed people above the age of 35 as a “dustbin” of the labour market and pledged to challenge what it described as age-based discrimination in employment.
On community safety, the movement proposed strengthening municipal policing, maintaining functional streetlights and using CCTV cameras in identified crime hotspots.
Afrika Mayibuye also said sports, arts and culture should be incorporated into local economic development programmes.
The movement said local coaches, groundskeepers, artists, technicians, event organisers and cultural workers should be recognised as contributors to the local economy and provided with opportunities to earn a livelihood.
It further pledged to maintain working relationships with traditional leaders, taxi associations and religious leaders, saying these stakeholders have an important role to play in community development and local governance.
The movement’s election campaign will now face the test of the November 2026 local government elections, when voters across municipalities will elect representatives to local government.
