eThekwini local government election 2026
Xolani Dlamini|Published
Residents in La Lucia, KwaMashu and Phoenix cite water and power outages, crime, unemployment and poor service delivery as they decide whether to vote in the eThekwini local government election.
Kevin Johnson, a La Lucia resident, said he would not vote on November 4 due to lack of service delivery and high unemployment rate in the country.
"I have decided to boycott the upcoming elections for different reasons. I am confused about who to vote for because no party has convinced me that they can make the change that I need to see. “Another issue is the high rate of unemployment in the country, which our current government is doing nothing about," he said.
Johnson said he had no reason to vote since the government had neglected its citizens.
"We have many power and water outages in the area. I do not think that my vote will change the current situation. In eThekwini, there are many women and children still living in the shacks (informal dwellings)," he said.
Another La Lucia resident, Nomkhosi Xaba, said she was also hesitant about voting in the November 4 elections.
"We are always struggling. If it is not water outages, it is the power. When we try to adjust to that situation, then comes the crime. We are no longer safe when walking in our streets. I used to jog in the afternoons, but I stopped due to many crime incidents in the area," she said.
Xaba believes that the local government elections will not create change.
KwaMashu resident Nombuso Mbutho, said she will not vote in the upcoming elections.
She claimed corruption in the government blocked service delivery to many communities.
"Voting will not make a difference. You can even see now that the government is failing us. Sewage is running on many streets in my area, and it is stinking. Water and power are also challenges in the area. Last week alone, we went about four days without the power," she said.
Mbutho said they relied on water tankers since they had also been struggling with water outages.
She said the issue of unemployment was reality as many young people are roamed the streets.
Happy Nsele, another KwaMashu resident, said she would vote for a party she believes would bring change.
"We need changes to be made, such as having running water from the taps, constant power, and reduction of crime incidents. This is why I am going to vote," she said.
Commenting on the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) emerging as winner in the recent polls in eThekwini, Nsele said she was happy about the news.
"I believe that it is time for the new party to take over eThekwini. I would love to see other parties winning the city because the current government has failed to deliver on its promises," she added.
According to IOL, an Ipsos poll conducted between June and July put MK at 55% among voters who expressed a party preference in eThekwini. The DA stood at 17%, the ANC at 10%, the IFP at 6%, ActionSA at 4% and the EFF at 3%.
A survey by SRF and The Common Sense, conducted between July 8 and 31 among likely voters, placed MK Party at 33%, followed by the DA at 23%, the ANC at 18% and the IFP at 16%.
A News24/SABI Strategy Group poll conducted between August 25 and September 17 put MK at 43%, the DA at 30%, the ANC at 11%, the IFP at 6% and the EFF at 3%.
Another resident, Bradwin Pillay said he will also go to the polls to vote.
"I believe that there is always room for improvement for our political parties. We need to give all parties a change to bring change in our areas. If a party fails to deliver on its promises, then we need to bring a new one in the following elections," he said.
Pillay urged the eThekwini residents to come out in numbers on election day to ensure that they change the party that had failed to deliver on its promises.