With Johannesburg’s mayoral race drawing candidates promising to fix the city’s failing services, UDM hopeful Yongama Zigebe says the next administration must break the cycle of political instability and make municipal officials answerable for whether residents get water, electricity and functioning roads.
Zigebe joins a crowded contest that includes the DA’s Helen Zille, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, EFF candidate Tlaleng Mofokeng, and Patriotic Alliance Deputy President Kenny Kunene, among others. The election comes as Johannesburg’s coalition politics and persistent service-delivery failures remain central concerns for residents.
The UDM national chairperson and proportional representation councillor said his proposed administration would prioritise service continuity, professional municipal management, and a public agreement binding coalition partners to a shared programme.
“Johannesburg needs continuity in the work of government, even when political leadership changes. Residents cannot have their water supply, electricity repairs, or refuse collection disrupted because parties are renegotiating positions,” Zigebe said.
His proposal requires governing parties to sign a published agreement setting out their commitments to essential services, financial recovery, and delivery over the full council term. It should specify how budgets will be supported, how disputes will be resolved, and what would constitute a breach.
“A party should explain publicly why it wants to leave an agreed programme. Residents deserve to know whether a dispute concerns their interests or political positions,” he said.
Johannesburg’s mayoral turnover since 2021 has exposed the challenges of governing a fragmented council. Zigebe said stability must protect service delivery and projects from political disruption while ensuring accountability for poor performance and misconduct.
“A new mayor should not automatically replace competent officials or restart projects,” he said. “Equally, continuity must never become protection for poor performance or misconduct.”
Zigebe identifies reliable water and sanitation, dependable electricity, and safe, clean streets as his three most urgent priorities.
He said the city needs to focus repairs on areas with recurring pipe failures, high water losses, and sewage overflows, while publishing reservoir information, repair progress, and emergency water-delivery routes.
On electricity, his proposals include identifying the worst-performing distribution networks, ensuring repair crews have materials and adequate staffing, and addressing cable theft, overloaded equipment, and prolonged local outages.
He also wants pothole repairs, traffic signal maintenance, street lighting, stormwater clearance, and refuse collection coordinated across municipal departments and entities.
“When a pipe bursts, Johannesburg Water must repair it, the road excavation must be made safe, and JRA (Johannesburg Roads Agency) must complete reinstatement. Today, a resident can be passed between institutions while the problem remains,” he said.
For businesses, he said predictable services, accurate municipal bills, and clear deadlines for approvals are necessary to restore confidence. He proposed coordinated processes for planning applications, electricity capacity, water connections, and municipal accounts, including in township enterprise areas.
Coalition partners, meanwhile, should receive the same verified monthly information on finances and service delivery, he said. A public register of commitments and quarterly progress reports would make it harder for parties to shift blame when targets are missed.
“If we miss a target, we must explain the reason, the remedial action and the deadline,” Zigebe said.
His first 100 days would begin with a published assessment of service backlogs, available staff and materials, the city’s cash position, and the cost of proposed interventions.
According to him, the targets would be costed against a published baseline and depend on available funding, approved budgets, and lawful procurement processes.
“I cannot honestly promise to rebuild Johannesburg in 100 days,” Zigebe said. “I can commit to a visible change in how the city delivers and accounts for its work: consistent, present, and accountable.”
anita.nkonki@nationalmg.co.za