LGE MANIFESTO
4 November 2026 is a defining moment for South Africa’s communities. It is a chance to fix what is broken, restore trust in local government, and bring real service delivery back to the people. This election is not about politics as usual. It is about daily life. Specifically, water that runs, electricity that works, roads that are safe, sewage that is fixed, refuse that is collected, streets that are lit, and Communities that are safe. South Africans are red of excuses, corrup on, broken promises, and poor service delivery. We believe local government must return to one simple purpose: “SERVING THE PEOPLE”.
The UIM will focus only on local government responsibilities.
The #LGE2026 is about service delivery. Our focus will be on the issues residents experience every day.
Water and sanita on, electricity supply, roads and potholes, sewage systems, refuse removal, streetlights, public safety, municipal billing, local economic activity, town planning, informal trading, and by-law enforcement where services depend on other levels of government, we will escalate issues, apply pressure, and fight for solutions on behalf of communities.
Our main responsibility however remains clear; fix local government so communities can function and thrive!
Municipalities are the level of government closest to your everyday life.
They are responsible for basic services that keep communities running, such as water and sanitation, electricity distribution, refuse removal, fixing roads and potholes, stormwater drainage, and streetlights. They also help with community services like parks, sports facilities, libraries, community halls, cemeteries, fire and emergency services, and disaster response.
On top of that, municipalities deal with local planning and the economy, including informal trading permits, town planning and building approvals, business support, bylaw enforcement, traffic control, metro police where applicable, municipal accounts, rates and billing, and customer service.
We commit to serve communities with honesty, visibility and accountability. We believe that communities come first! Public money must be used for services! Councillors must be visible and available. Corruption must face consequences. Communication must be honest and continuous.
RESULTS, NOT JUST PROMISES
We are not here to make empty promises about “projects”. Our promise is simple; to work hard and make sure services are actually delivered.
WATER AND SANITATION
We want taps to run, clean water to reach every community, and sanitation systems to work properly. If a pipe bursts, it must be repaired as quickly as possible. If it cannot be fixed right away, residents must be informed clearly and kept updated until the problem is solved.
Communities should always know what is broken, what is being fixed, and when they can expect it to be restored.
ELECTRICITY & STREETLIGHTS
We will work to ensure that streetlights are repaired quickly, electricity faults are escalated faster, public spaces are safer and well lit, and infrastructure is protected from the and vandalism.
ROADS, STORMWATER & MAINTENANCE
We believe maintenance must come first. We will ensure that potholes are repaired faster, stormwater systems are cleared regularly, flooding risks are reduced, and roads are maintained before collapse.
FIX IT BEFORE IT BREAKS
We will support routine inspections, planned maintenance, and early repairs before failure.
COMMUNITY SAFETY
We will support by-law enforcement, traffic enforcement, safer public spaces, protection of infrastructure, and action against vandalism and theft. We will work with SAPS and lawful authorities. We do not and will not support vigilante action.
MUNICIPAL BILLING & FAIRNESS
We will support accurate billing systems, faster dispute resolution, clear communication with residents, and fair treatment of struggling households Residents should not be charged unfairly for poor systems.
REFUSE REMOVAL & CLEAN COMMUNITIES
We will push for reliable refuse collection, cleaner streets, action against illegal dumping, and better landfill management.
INFORMAL TRADERS & LOCAL ECONOMY
We will support fair trading spaces, reduced unnecessary bureaucracy, support for small businesses, cleaner trading environments and local job creation initiatives. The informal economy must be supported, not punished.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
We will support parks and recreation facilities, libraries and community halls, sports fields, fire and emergency services, and disaster readiness.
TOWN PLANNING & URBAN MANAGEMENT
We will support better land use planning, action against abandoned buildings, safer urban environments, and improved building approval systems.
RESPONSIBLE MUNICIPAL SPENDING
Every Rand comes from the people. It must go back into services. We will ensure transparent budgets, open and fair tenders, reduced wasteful spending, strict action against corruption, and public oversight of major projects. We will prioritise spending on water, electricity, road maintenance, sewage, refuse removal, and safety and infrastructure. We do not and will not support unnecessary luxury spending.
BETTER MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION
Residents deserve respect and efficiency. We will improve response times, customer service standards, complaint handling systems, and communication between departments No resident should have to chase officials endlessly, or have their complaints ignored.
MEASURABLE ACCOUNTABILITY
We believe in visible results. We will implement complaint reference numbers, ward-level tracking systems, public progress updates, service delivery dashboards (that are simple and accessible). If service delivery is delayed the reason must be clearly explained and communicated to the public. Trust comes from visibility, not speeches.
COUNCILLOR ACCOUNTABILITY
UIM councillors will attend meetings, remain visible in communities, hold regular ward meetings, respond to residents, declare conflicts of interest, and follow strict conduct rules. If councillors fail communities, corrective action will be taken.
Our councillors will follow and adhere to:
The Servant Principle – leadership is service
The No-Gi Rule – no benefits from contractors
The Straight Talk Rule – honesty always
The Action Rule – decisions must lead to results
The Visibility Rule – councillors must be present
The Accountability Rule – communities can demand answers.
Vote UIM for councillors who will lead by serving, deliver by doing, and answer to you every day. Local government is not about politics, It is about life. We believe if it affects your daily life, it must work. We do not promise perfection overnight. We do promise honest communication, visible leadership, faster responses, responsible spending, real accountability and continuous service improvement. We serve for your dignity and your future, not our gain. The people first.