DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — As political parties intensify their groundwork for the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections, ActionSA has officially unveiled its KZN mayoral candidates, signaling a robust campaign focused on ethical leadership, uncompromising service delivery, and strict border enforcement. Gathering at the KwaMashu Christian Centre north of Durban, the opposition party introduced its flagbearers for the eThekwini, KwaDukuza, and Newcastle municipalities, setting the stage for a highly contested electoral season in the province.
A Hardline Vision for Ethical Governance
ActionSA President Herman Mashaba anchored the announcements with a fiery address centered on accountability and a “South Africans first” approach. Drawing on his personal history as a businessman who built a 6,000-square-meter factory in Mamelodi—employing over 200 people from a modest R30,000 start-up loan—Mashaba emphasized the necessity of ethical governance. He touted the party’s zero-tolerance policy for corruption, citing the recent suspension and expulsion of a City of Tshwane MMC within 72 hours following evidence presented to the Madlanga Commission.
Mashaba also took an unapologetic, hardline stance on undocumented immigrants, stating that an ActionSA government would pressure national authorities to enforce mass deportations. He criticized the misallocation of state funds, pointing out the absurdity of government officials spending R13 million on international sporting events while local townships lack basic football grounds and face severe housing backlogs.
“I am not in politics to save the world. I am here to serve the people of South Africa,” Mashaba declared, stressing that the country has the wealth to eradicate squalor if funds are not lost to administrative corruption.
eThekwini Metro: Stability and Infrastructure Revival
For the eThekwini Municipality, the party has nominated Zwakele Mncwango. Mncwango outlined a vision rooted in municipal stability, financial discipline, and the insourcing of critical services. He highlighted the urgent need to investigate the municipality’s troubled public transport project, which has already consumed over R9.5 billion with deteriorating stations and little accountability to show for it.
Addressing the metro’s severe water crisis—where 58% of water is currently lost and recent tragedies involving the Zondo family have highlighted the fatal human cost of service failures—Mncwango promised decisive action. Looking ahead to the high probability of a hung council, Mncwango clarified the party’s coalition strategy. He noted that ActionSA will not negotiate based on ideological policy alignment, but rather on five strict non-negotiables:
- Uncompromised delivery of basic services.
- Absolute financial stability.
- The insourcing of municipal functions.
- Making illegal immigration a central issue of local governance.
- Aggressive localized economic growth.
KwaDukuza: Tackling Energy Losses and the “Tanker Mafia”
In the neighboring KwaDukuza municipality, Halalisani Ndlovu has been tasked with reversing municipal decay and restoring public trust. Ndlovu pointed to staggering energy losses exceeding R400 million in a single quarter. While current administrations disproportionately target illegal connections in disadvantaged communities, Ndlovu promised that an ActionSA-led council would hold large, non-compliant commercial power users accountable by cutting them off to recover lost revenue.
Ndlovu also addressed the area’s acute water challenges, noting that some growing communities are forced to drink from man-made holes meant for animals. He condemned the “water tanker mafia” and failing district models that exploit crumbling infrastructure for tender benefits. His strategy involves bringing water supply competencies back in-house to eliminate reliance on corrupt service providers, referencing the party’s recent community petitions regarding uMngeni Water.
Newcastle and the Road to Coalitions
Rounding out the provincial slate is Zwe Nxumalo, who will contest the Newcastle municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The strategic focus on these three specific areas builds upon the party’s baseline performance in the 2021 local government elections, where it secured over 46,000 votes and captured 12 seats across these exact councils.
As the November 2026 elections approach, ActionSA acknowledges the likelihood of coalition governments across the province. However, leadership maintains that any partnership will be strictly conditional. The party insists it will not compromise on its foundational pillars: the strict rule of law, economic prosperity, and an unwavering commitment to ethical leadership.