The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has revealed the leaders it wants to contest mayoral positions in municipalities across South Africa ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
Party leader Julius Malema made the announcement during the EFF’s manifesto launch and 13th anniversary celebrations at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday. The elections are expected to take place in less than four months.
EFF Mayoral Candidates Named Ahead Of Local Government Elections
The EFF mayoral candidates were unveiled as Malema outlined the party’s vision for municipalities and pledged to improve service delivery if elected. He argued that local government requires greater financial support, saying municipalities are at the forefront of serving communities.
“We want more money for local government, because it is local government that deals directly with our people,” Malema said.
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Malema also maintained that the EFF had demonstrated its ability to govern where it has held leadership positions. He pointed to the party’s role in Ekurhuleni and Tshwane as examples of its governance record.
“The EFF in Ekurhuleni has made sure that it gives our people dignified sanitation and water.
“The EFF stabilised the finances of Ekurhuleni. Once they removed our MMC in Ekurhuleni, the finances of Ekurhuleni collapsed.
“It is the EFF that is known for giving people houses because the EFF cares about our people.
“Today, Tshwane is clean, you would have mistaken it for London. The best MMC when it comes to cleaning a town comes from the EFF,” said Malema.
EFF Announces Candidates For South Africa’s Major Metros
The EFF local government elections campaign will see former Ekurhuleni Speaker Nthabiseng Tshivenga contest the mayoral position in Ekurhuleni, while Member of Parliament Omphile Maotwe has been selected as the party’s candidate for Tshwane.
The party also announced the following mayoral candidates for the country’s other metropolitan municipalities:
- Johannesburg: Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng
- Cape Town: Nontando Nolutshungo
- eThekwini: Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi
- Mangaung: Sam Matiase
- Nelson Mandela Bay: Sinawo Thambo
- Buffalo City: Mkhululi Dlevu
Malema further named candidates for several strategic municipalities, including Lawrence Mapoulo for Polokwane, Godrich Gardee for Mbombela, Israel Monaise for Rustenburg and Lerato Tito for Sol Plaatjie.
The Julius Malema address concluded with the party reiterating that accountability and public service would be central to its approach if elected to govern more municipalities.
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“Where the EFF is in government, we have proven that political conviction alone cannot fix infrastructure or rebuild institutions.
“Accountability and being of service to the people is what matters,” the party stated.
