South Africa’s UDM party has focused its local election manifesto on repairing and regularly maintaining existing municipal infrastructure rather than on expensive new projects. The party is led by General Bantu Holomisa. UDM has 51 councillors, mainly in the Eastern Cape province, as well as several seats in Gauteng metropolitan municipalities.
According to Daily Maverick, the UDM document links the decline of municipalities to years of weak planning and administration, improper appointments, procurement violations, debts to creditors, faulty billing systems, neglected infrastructure and a lack of accountability. The party proposes that municipalities identify which infrastructure assets they own, assess their condition and set repair priorities.
Water, electricity and roads
The manifesto provides for the maintenance of water supply and sewerage systems, detecting and reducing leaks, preventive maintenance, asset management and rapid responses to infrastructure emergencies. UDM also promises to introduce clear service delivery schedules and public reporting.
For electricity networks, the party declares reliable electricity distribution, preventive maintenance and protection of municipal networks from theft and vandalism. The financial part of the programme provides for realistic budgets with secured funding, improved revenue collection and billing systems, and regular monitoring of municipal debts and creditors.
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UDM also lists the maintenance of roads, stormwater drainage and street lighting, regular waste collection and combating illegal dumping among its basic service priorities. The party proposes improving public transport planning, traffic management and spatial planning linked to housing, jobs and services.
Accountability and coalitions
UDM promises support for small businesses, cooperatives and informal traders, reducing bureaucratic procedures, better management of trading sites and markets, municipal information points and internet access points. In procurement, the party wants to give priority to businesses with South African owners, including in townships, informal settlements and rural areas.
In housing policy, UDM proposes releasing land plots in convenient locations, upgrading informal settlements, creating serviced plots and placing housing closer to jobs, schools and transport. It also refers to transparent systems for selecting housing beneficiaries, managing the municipal rental stock and measures concerning unlawfully occupied buildings.
UDM candidates must sign accountability commitments, while councillors must regularly meet with communities, report on council work, help residents with complaints, oversee projects in electoral wards and support the work of ward committees. The party also advocates written and public coalition agreements with measurable service delivery indicators, a clear division of roles, financial discipline and the possibility of oversight by residents.
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