See what parties have committed to in their own published documents. Choose an issue, compare the summaries, then follow the evidence.
Compare documented positions, not predictions. These 2026 manifestos set out national
local-government frameworks. They are not verified municipality-specific pledges. This is a sourced
selection of parties, not a complete or confirmed local ballot.
Select up to three parties. Displayed alphabetically.
Comparing 3 parties on water and sanitation.
ANC
African National Congress
2026 local government manifesto
Water & sanitation
Proposes repairing water networks, reducing leaks, improving wastewater treatment and developing alternative water sources.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 1: Provide reliable water and dignified sanitationPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Electricity & energy
Proposes upgrading electricity networks, expanding smart meters and increasing free basic electricity for qualifying households.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 1: Deliver reliable, affordable and resilient electricityPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Roads & infrastructure
Commits to pothole repairs and maintaining municipal roads, bridges, drainage and stormwater systems.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 1: Fix and maintain municipal roads and stormwater systemsPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Housing & development
Proposes informal-settlement upgrades, serviced sites, title-deed transfers and affordable housing with other government spheres.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 1: Build sustainable and integrated human settlementsPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Public safety
Proposes strengthening community safety forums and municipal law enforcement, coordinated with SAPS and community organisations.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 3: Working together we will; community safety forums and municipal law enforcementPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Financial management
Commits to eliminating unfunded budgets within two years and improving expenditure controls, procurement and audit outcomes.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 4: Restore financial discipline and rebuild public confidencePublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Waste collection
Commits to reliable refuse collection and action against illegal dumping and other public-health hazards.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 3: Our five-year target; cleaner and safer public spacesPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Jobs & local economy
Proposes one-stop municipal business services, clearer licensing timelines and support for local enterprises and informal traders.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 2: Access to economic opportunitiesPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Transport
Proposes integrated transport planning and upgrading taxi ranks with shelter, toilets, lighting and trading spaces.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 1: Plan transport properly, linked to the Integrated Development PlanPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Transparency & governance
Commits to publishing budgets, procurement records, council decisions and performance information in accessible formats.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Action 6: Make local government open, transparent and accessiblePublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
DA
Democratic Alliance
2026 local government manifesto
Water & sanitation
Proposes protecting water revenue for infrastructure, repairing leaks and upgrading wastewater systems.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Official policy webpage: Getting water flowing; PDF p. 4Publication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Electricity & energy
Proposes reinvesting electricity revenue in grids and enabling municipal power trading and household surplus-electricity supply.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Official policy webpage: Keeping the lights on; PDF p. 4Publication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Roads & infrastructure
Commits to maintaining and upgrading roads, intersections, traffic signals and signage through prioritised infrastructure budgets.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: PDF p. 46: Improving road and traffic infrastructurePublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Housing & development
Proposes transparent housing allocation, title-deed delivery and releasing well-located public land for affordable housing.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: PDF p. 47: Fair and transparent housing deliveryPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Public safety
Proposes expanding municipal safety capacity, policing partnerships and crime-fighting technology.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Official policy webpage: Making communities safer; PDF p. 4Publication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Financial management
Proposes auditing billing systems, enforcing credit control and keeping municipal property valuations current.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: PDF p. 11: Restore the financial viability of failing municipalitiesPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Waste collection
Commits to restoring waste collection and maintaining public spaces through community and private-sector partnerships.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Official policy webpage: Cleaning up towns and cities; PDF p. 4Publication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Jobs & local economy
Proposes reducing red tape, supporting small businesses and informal traders, and encouraging local investment.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: Official policy webpage: Creating jobs and growing local economies; PDF p. 4Publication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Transport
Proposes integrated public transport ticketing and devolving passenger-rail management to capable metropolitan municipalities.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: PDF p. 46: Transport connectivity and passenger railPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Transparency & governance
Proposes merit-based appointments, functioning oversight committees and public disclosure of procurement awards and contract prices.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifestoReference: PDF pp. 10–11: Corruption-free and professional municipalitiesPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
EFF
Economic Freedom Fighters
2026 local government manifesto
Water & sanitation
Commits to repairing reported water leaks within a day and expanding dignified sanitation and wastewater treatment.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Sections m.8 and n.1–6: Water; sanitation and wastewater managementPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Electricity & energy
Proposes municipal electricity generation, renewable-energy access, network upgrades and dedicated technical response teams.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section i.6–14: Energy and electricityPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Roads & infrastructure
Proposes permanent municipal infrastructure teams to maintain roads, bridges, traffic lights and stormwater systems.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section s.1–5: Municipal infrastructurePublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Housing & development
Proposes serviced sites, transparent housing waiting lists, informal-settlement upgrades and public affordable-rental housing institutions.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section k.1–6: Human settlementsPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Public safety
Proposes stronger municipal law enforcement, SAPS partnerships and technology to improve public safety.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section p.2–9: Crime, corruption and municipal public safetyPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Financial management
Proposes infrastructure-grant oversight units, better revenue collection and internal professional capacity instead of consultant dependence.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section F: Budgeting and financing EFF People's MunicipalitiesPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Waste collection
Proposes insourcing waste collection, integrating waste pickers and expanding recycling and landfill capacity.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section o.1–7: Waste collection, waste management and environmental cleanlinessPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Jobs & local economy
Proposes permanent municipal jobs through insourcing, apprenticeships, business-support centres and infrastructure-linked skills programmes.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section e.1–8: Jobs and SMMEsPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Transport
Proposes accountable maintenance of transport infrastructure and municipal by-law enforcement for transport operators.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section r.17–18: TransportPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Transparency & governance
Commits to lifestyle audits of municipal officials and consequences for corruption and wrongdoing.
Read original manifesto National local-government manifesto Original PDF was read during source review. Subsequent direct-link checks returned an access restriction (HTTP 403).
Party manifesto website ↗
Reference: Section p.11: Crime, corruption and municipal public safetyPublication: 2026; exact date not stated
Checked: 2026-10-29 ·
Source record
Choose a party to start comparing.
Select one, two or three parties above.
Equal structure. Alphabetical order. No endorsements, scores or paid priority. Read our methodology.