With the 4 November local government elections approaching, various political parties have announced their mayoral candidates for the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
Several parties including the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and ActionSA have announced their candidates.
ANC – Cyril Xaba and other contenders
The ANC has identified incumbent mayor Cyril Xaba, council Speaker Thabani Nyawose, former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Mina Soma-Lesoma and Maggie Govender as potential candidates.
Xaba heads the party’s proportional representation list for eThekwini, but the party’s final mayoral selection remains a key development to watch as it seeks to retain control of the municipality.
DA – Haniff Hoosen
The DA has selected former councillor and Member of Parliament Haniff Hoosen as its mayoral candidate.
Hoosen has made municipal accountability and service delivery central to his campaign. His proposals include addressing water losses, repairing infrastructure, improving sanitation, tackling corruption and recovering outstanding municipal debt.
He has also called for greater transparency in municipal operations so residents can monitor service delivery and hold officials accountable.
EFF – Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi
The EFF has nominated former deputy secretary-general and current member of Parliament Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi.
Mkhaliphi has prioritised tackling corruption, improving municipal infrastructure, expanding access to housing and addressing unemployment and poverty.
She has also called for improvements to the municipality’s billing system and greater access to basic services for qualifying indigent households.
IFP – Mkhuleko Hlengwa
The IFP has chosen its national spokesperson and Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, to contest the mayoral position.
The party has presented Hlengwa’s experience in politics and public administration as important to its campaign to restore accountable governance and improve service delivery in the metro.
MK Party – Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi
The MK Party has appointed Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi as its eThekwini mayoral candidate, replacing Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi, who was initially selected for the position.
Hlophe-Mkhwanazi nevertheless remains at the top of the party’s certified proportional representation (PR) list for the municipality.
The party’s campaign has focused on addressing deteriorating infrastructure, water interruptions, sewage problems and employment challenges.
ActionSA – Zwakele Mncwango
ActionSA has named its KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango, as its mayoral candidate.
Mncwango has pledged to improve service delivery, rebuild infrastructure, reduce water losses and strengthen municipal governance.
