The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has framed local government as being in a “deep and worsening crisis,” with municipalities often functioning as vehicles for corruption and private interests rather than serving communities. Its core theme is that “municipalities must serve communities, not private interests.” In eThekwini specifically, party leaders—including Julius Malema addressing Ground Forces forums—have stated intentions to take control of the metro and improve service delivery, with emphasis on reliable water access, infrastructure repairs, and community servicing. Recent posts and campaign activity highlight priorities such as electrification of informal settlements and rural areas, clean and reliable running water for every household, and broader operational improvements.
Key elements of the EFF’s local government approach
The 2026 manifesto and related statements outline practical commitments that would apply to an EFF-led eThekwini:
- Free basic services and support for the poor: Automatic registration of qualifying SASSA grant recipients and indigent households for free basic water, electricity, sanitation, and refuse removal within 90 days of taking office. Historical debt write-offs for qualifying households, progressive tariffs to protect the poor while aiming for municipal sustainability, and extension of services to informal settlements, backyard dwellings, and rural areas.
- Insourcing and capacity rebuilding: Ending reliance on outsourcing and politically connected contractors for core functions (security, cleaning, waste collection, maintenance). Direct employment of workers, including permanent artisan units, engineers, plumbers, and technicians. A target of at least 40% of municipal employment opportunities for youth (18–35) and significant procurement directed to youth-owned businesses and cooperatives. Gender parity goals in leadership, management, and procurement.
- Infrastructure and rapid response: Repair, expansion, and maintenance of water infrastructure (pipes, reservoirs, treatment plants) to reduce losses from leaks; 24-hour water leak repairs in some messaging; reliable electricity and sanitation upgrades (including eradicating bucket toilets and unsafe pit latrines); improved waste collection and road maintenance.
- Accountability and governance: Ward-based People’s Budget Assemblies for community oversight; transparent procurement; digital systems; professionalised administration. Land redistribution of municipally owned land for productive use by Black communities and young people (e.g., agriculture) as a foundation for local economic development.
These build on the party’s claimed track record in coalitions or influence in other metros (e.g., debt write-offs and indigent policy expansions in places like Ekurhuleni or Tshwane, some housing moves in eThekwini areas such as Umlazi and KwaMakhutha, and insourcing of cleaners/security in certain municipalities). The EFF positions itself as having demonstrated “servant leadership” through community initiatives like soup kitchens in some areas.
Context in eThekwini
eThekwini (Durban metro) has faced persistent service delivery challenges, including water interruptions and losses, sanitation issues, infrastructure decay, waste management problems, billing disputes, and financial pressures (irregular expenditure, collection rates). It has operated under coalitions involving the ANC (as the leading partner), EFF, and others such as the NFP or IFP at various points since losing an outright majority. The ANC has claimed progress under Mayor Cyril Xaba, citing stabilisation efforts, Presidential Working Group interventions, improved billing accuracy, digital initiatives, appointments of technical executives, and rising business confidence or tourism metrics in some periods. Independent assessments and opposition critiques have ranked service delivery relatively poorly among metros at times, with ongoing resident frustrations over water, refuse, roads, and accountability.
The EFF is currently a junior partner in the governing arrangement but is campaigning aggressively to lead or significantly increase its influence, with Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi as a mayoral candidate focus. Polling (as of mid-2026 data) has shown the EFF as a smaller player compared to parties like the MK Party, DA, ANC, and IFP, though local dynamics and turnout can shift outcomes. No party is guaranteed a majority based on available surveys, making coalitions likely again.
Multiple angles, nuances, and implications
Supportive view: Proponents argue that radical prioritisation of the poor, insourcing to cut tender-related corruption and build internal capacity, and measurable response times (e.g., rapid leak repairs) address root causes of failure more directly than incremental reforms. Where the EFF has held portfolios, it highlights concrete relief measures for indigents and some community-level actions. In a metro with high inequality, informal settlements, and ageing infrastructure strained by floods and growth, a people-centred model could restore dignity and trust if executed competently.
Skeptical and critical views: Independent analyses of the manifesto note good diagnosis of problems but question the record. In municipalities where the EFF has shared power, critics point to limited systemic transformation on water reliability, roads/transport, or overall efficiency, and instances of party-linked individuals benefiting from tenders despite the anti-outsourcing rhetoric. Implementation depends on skilled technocrats, fiscal realism (free services and insourcing raise costs; revenue collection and grant dependence remain challenges), and overcoming institutional inertia or cadre deployment issues common across parties. Coalition realities mean pure EFF control is not assured; past co-governance in eThekwini has involved tensions, portfolio shifts, and shared accountability for outcomes. Broader critiques of local government note that political will alone does not solve skills shortages, ageing assets, non-revenue water losses, or national policy constraints.
Practical and systemic considerations: Success would require rapid technical appointments, accurate indigent systems, fleet/resources for response teams, and honest budgeting. Edge cases include how to handle high non-payment rates, climate/flood resilience (critical in eThekwini), and balancing free services with infrastructure investment. Comparisons to other metros show that no single party has fully solved South Africa’s local government crisis; progress often comes from multi-stakeholder interventions (as seen in Presidential Working Groups) rather than ideology alone. Residents’ lived experience—water reliability, refuse collection frequency, road conditions, and responsive complaints systems—will ultimately test any promises.
In short, the EFF’s statement reflects a consistent campaign platform focused on service delivery as the foundation of local economic freedom and dignity. Whether it translates into measurable improvements if the party gains leadership depends on execution capacity, fiscal management, coalition dynamics, and addressing the deep structural problems that have long plagued eThekwini and other metros. Voters will weigh this against the records and alternative proposals of competing parties in a highly contested election environment.
