By Charmaine Ndlela
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has launched its 2026 local government election manifesto with a pledge to create jobs, insource municipal workers and expand free basic services as it seeks to capitalise on widespread anger over failing municipalities.
EFF leader Julius Malema unveiled the manifesto at the party’s 13th anniversary rally in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on Saturday, casting the November elections as a test of whether voters would continue to tolerate corruption, unemployment and deteriorating service delivery.
“South Africa is confronted with a choice that can no longer be postponed. It is a choice between victory or death. The collapse of our municipalities is not just about broken pipes, potholes, refuse collection, water and electricity supply. It is about the daily lived experience of our people,” Malema said.
He said communities across the country continue to endure unemployment, unreliable electricity, poor roads, failing healthcare facilities and a lack of clean water while municipalities deteriorate under ANC-led governments.
Malema dismissed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to Limpopo, saying residents were demanding jobs and functioning municipalities rather than political speeches.
“There is nothing special that President Ramaphosa said here. We cannot eat speeches. We want jobs, proper roads, reliable electricity, water and opportunities for young people,” he said.
A central pillar of the manifesto is youth employment, with Malema promising that municipalities governed by the EFF would place young people at the centre of local economic development.
He also vowed to take decisive action against councillors or mayors who exploit young women in exchange for jobs or bursaries.
“Any mayor or councillor who is found demanding sexual favours from young women or children in exchange for employment or bursaries will be fired immediately and sent to jail.”
Malema accused municipalities of outsourcing services at the expense of workers and pledged that EFF-run councils would insource security, cleaning, auditing and other municipal services.
“We don’t want tenders. We want people employed directly by municipalities with appointment letters, medical aid, pension funds and decent working conditions,” he said.
The party also committed itself to expanding free basic services, promising free electricity and water for social grant beneficiaries, unemployed people and elderly residents.
Malema said municipalities under the EFF would work with mines and factories to ensure every household had access to affordable electricity.
“We will never allow villages to remain without electricity. Every mine and every factory must work with municipalities to ensure electricity reaches every home,” he said.
Land reform also featured prominently in the manifesto, with Malema reiterating the party’s commitment to expropriate abandoned land and buildings for housing, agriculture and youth development projects.
“We want land for settlement and economic opportunities. Abandoned land and buildings must benefit our people, not stand unused,” he said
The EFF also pledged to industrialise municipalities, support local businesses, create jobs where goods are produced, and invest in sports, arts and cultural infrastructure in every community.
On gender equality, Malema said that EFF municipalities would implement a 50-50 representation policy in management, employment, procurement and economic development.
“There will not be more men. If anything, there will be more women because women continue to suffer triple oppression,” he said.
The manifesto further promises strengthened healthcare through community health committees in every ward, early disease detection programmes and better-equipped clinics.
Malema cited municipalities where the EFF has previously governed or participated in coalition governments, including Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay, claiming the party had improved sanitation, stabilised municipal finances, renovated clinics, expanded access to water and electricity, and reduced debt owed by poor communities.
“Our commitments are not empty promises. They are practical and measurable. We know our people are tired of promises. We are presenting a five-year commitment to build municipalities that deliver services with integrity,” he said.
As part of the launch, the party also unveiled its mayoral candidates for several strategic municipalities and introduced a compulsory oath for all EFF councillor candidates.
The pledge commits councillors to reject corruption, avoid involvement in municipal tenders, refrain from manipulating housing and employment processes, reject gender-based violence, and accept immediate recall should they violate the party’s code of conduct.
Malema said every EFF councillor would be required to sign the commitment before assuming office, adding the party wanted public representatives who remained accountable to communities rather than personal interests.
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