Thulani Shongwe has put corruption, bribery and drug trafficking at the centre of his campaign for control of Ekurhuleni, warning politicians, tenderpreneurs and criminal networks that he intends to take a hard line if elected mayor.

The MK Party’s mayoral candidate made the uncompromising pledge after receiving the party’s official endorsement, delivering a speech that underscored both the political stakes and the risks he believes come with confronting entrenched criminal networks.

Addressing MK Party leader Jacob Zuma, Shongwe made an unusual personal appeal before turning his attention to those he accused of exploiting municipal power.

“President, please look after my family, because now I will be arresting corrupt politicians and corrupt tenderpreneurs.”

He then issued a direct warning to drug dealers operating in communities across Ekurhuleni.

“I will not be taking brown envelopes in Ekurhuleni. Every house that sells drugs must know that this will no longer be happening under my watch.”

The reference to “brown envelopes” is a pointed rejection of bribery and forms part of Shongwe’s broader pledge to pursue what he describes as corruption within local government.

Shongwe Brings Parliamentary Experience to Ekurhuleni Race

Shongwe, an MK Party Member of Parliament, has already been involved in investigations into allegations of criminal infiltration within South Africa’s justice system.

He previously served on the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee tasked with examining the issue, giving his campaign against organised crime and corruption a national political dimension.

He was unveiled alongside five other metro mayoral candidates as the MK Party prepares for the upcoming Local Government Elections, scheduled for 4 November.

His candidacy comes as political parties increasingly turn their attention to South Africa’s major metropolitan municipalities, where control over substantial budgets and infrastructure programmes can determine the delivery of essential services.

Ekurhuleni, one of Gauteng’s major economic centres, is therefore expected to be a significant electoral battleground.

‘Tenderpreneurs’ and Municipal Failures Under the Spotlight

Shongwe has previously criticised failures in sanitation and housing projects affecting informal settlements, linking the problems to alleged collusion between politicians and tenderpreneurs.

His latest remarks build on that position, arguing that corruption within municipalities has consequences that extend far beyond missing public funds.

For communities already struggling with inadequate housing, sanitation and infrastructure, he said municipal corruption means fewer resources reaching the people who need them.

That message is central to the MK Party’s Asibuyele Ebantwini, or “Return to the People”, campaign, which seeks to position the party as an alternative to the current administration.

Shongwe’s emphasis on enforcement, accountability and crime places law and order at the heart of his pitch to Ekurhuleni voters.

A Personal Warning Amid a High Stakes Campaign

Perhaps the most striking moment of Shongwe’s address was his request that Zuma look after his family.

The appeal reflected his acknowledgement that confronting corruption and criminal networks can carry personal risks, particularly when powerful interests are involved.

However, Shongwe did not soften his position.

Instead, he doubled down on his pledge to reject bribes and target criminal activity if given control of the metro.

His comments will now be tested against the realities of local government, where political promises must ultimately translate into functioning law enforcement, transparent procurement, effective municipal management and improved service delivery.

Ekurhuleni Emerges as Key MK Party Battleground

The MK Party’s decision to field Shongwe in Ekurhuleni signals the importance it places on Gauteng’s major economic hubs.

The metro is home to millions of residents and includes major industrial, commercial and residential areas, making municipal governance a high stakes political contest.

For Shongwe, the message is uncompromising: corruption and criminal activity cannot continue unchecked.

Whether that message resonates with voters will become clearer as the election campaign gathers momentum.

For now, his declaration has drawn a line between the politics he says he wants to practise and the corruption he has vowed to confront.

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