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🇿🇦 South Africa /Elections & Politics

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Bosa’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate sets out plan to revive crumbling city

From Daily Maverick · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Interview Named sources New plan
  • Build One South Africa’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, says new parties have emerged because established parties have lost voters’ trust and failed to deliver.
  • Johannesburg faces another fragmented municipal election, with 80 parties contesting proportional representation seats after the city went through 11 mayors in 10 years.
  • Hlazo-Webster, a former business and advocacy professional, says Bosa can offer an alternative to unstable coalitions and deteriorating city services.

Johannesburg is heading into another election defined by political fragmentation, with a record 80 parties contesting proportional representation seats in the city. Build One South Africa’s mayoral candidate, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, says that crowded field reflects a deeper failure by established parties.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa confirmed on 2 September that 546 parties would contest the upcoming local government elections, compared with 323 in 2021. Small parties have faced criticism for destabilising coalitions, particularly in Johannesburg, where 11 mayors have come and gone in 10 years.

The 2021 municipal elections produced 66 hung councils nationally. In Johannesburg, Al Jama-ah councillor Thapelo Amad became mayor in 2023 even though his party won only 0.95% of the vote. The African National Congress and Democratic Alliance are now seeking outright majorities and urging voters to reject smaller parties in order to avoid what they call “coalitions of chaos”.

There are new parties emerging because the current parties that exist are not trustworthy and have not been able to deliver. And so that’s why there are now other options and new options.

· Nobuntu Hlazo-WebsterShe explains why she believes newer parties have gained space in South African politics.

Hlazo-Webster rejects the idea that newer parties should simply be dismissed as small. “There are new parties emerging because the current parties that exist are not trustworthy and have not been able to deliver. And so that’s why there are now other options and new options,” she said. Originally from Durban, she has lived in Johannesburg for 14 years. She launched Bosa with former Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane in 2022 and has represented the party in the National Assembly since 2024.

Before entering politics, Hlazo-Webster co-founded the marketing and advertising firm Ayano Communications in 2007 and later established the consulting company African Pursuit. She said women who attended the South African Women’s Commission, which she founded in 2022, encouraged her to enter politics and represent them. Daily Maverick interviewed her about Bosa’s proposed turnaround plan for Johannesburg, including whether her business background can compensate for limited practical experience running a municipality.

Go into politics, go and lead us, go represent us in politics.

· Women attending the South African Women’s Commission, as quoted by Nobuntu Hlazo-WebsterHlazo-Webster says this appeal encouraged her to pursue elected office.
About this summary

Originally published by Daily Maverick in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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