ActionSA’s 2026 Local Election Plan
What the Party Promises
ActionSA unveiled its manifesto for the 2026 local government elections. The party says it wants to restore basic services, improve money handling, make municipal staff more professional, and keep communities safe.
Fixing Basic Services
The manifesto stresses reliable water and electricity, well‑maintained roads, working sewage systems, and regular refuse collection. ActionSA argues that a municipality cannot deliver these services if its finances are a mess.
Managing Money Well
ActionSA promises credible, fully funded budgets, better revenue collection, improved metering, and stronger billing systems. It also wants financial recovery plans for struggling towns and cities.
Fighting Corruption
The party vows greater transparency in tenders and contracts, investigations into suspicious conduct, and protection for whistle‑blowers. It says every rand lost to fraud or inflated contracts is a rand that could have fixed potholes or kept the lights on.
Making Communities Safer
More municipal law‑enforcement officers on the streets, a crackdown on infrastructure theft, illegal connections, hijacked buildings, and criminal syndicates are proposed. ActionSA also says municipalities should use their legal powers to deal with illegal immigration, working with national agencies when needed.
Other Important Ideas
Helping Business and Youth
To make towns more business‑friendly, ActionSA wants to cut red tape, set clear turnaround times for approvals, and improve access to municipal contracts for small businesses. It also plans skills and work programmes for young people and efforts to revive central business districts and town centres.
Better Housing and Transport
The party promises to upgrade informal settlements where appropriate, speed up the delivery of title deeds, and use municipal land for affordable housing. Improved public‑transport links and well‑maintained libraries, parks, sports fields, and other community spaces are also on the list.
Cleaner Environment
ActionSA says municipalities should tackle illegal dumping, expand recycling programmes, and work with waste pickers, businesses, and residents to reduce waste that ends up in landfills.
Working with Other Parties
No Pre‑Election Deals
ActionSA states it will not enter into any coalition before the election. Any post‑election partnership must be based on a clear programme of government, defined responsibilities, and accountability.
Coalition Rules
The party insists that coalition government should focus on delivering services, not on sharing positions while residents wait. ActionSA councillors would monitor spending, challenge poor service, and report back to residents whether they are in government, part of a coalition, or in opposition.
Reality Check
Herman Mashaba, ActionSA’s president and Johannesburg mayoral candidate, admits that turning around struggling municipalities will not happen overnight. He says the party will start by fixing what is broken and building from there.
Conclusion
ActionSA’s 2026 manifesto centers on nine priorities: reliable basic services, sound financial management, professional administrations, anti‑corruption measures, safer communities, economic development, inclusive services, and cleaner, more resilient municipalities. By cutting red tape, supporting youth and businesses, improving housing and transport, and protecting the environment, the party aims to give towns and cities a fresh start. While it refuses pre‑election deals, it is open to responsible coalitions that put service delivery first. The message to voters is clear: start fixing what is broken, one step at a time.
