Seventeen political parties are set to contest control of the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality (CALM), currently governed by the African National Congress (ANC), in a race expected to test the ruling party’s support across all 25 wards.
The contest will see established parties and smaller movements competing for residents’ support in Elukwatini, Carolina, Badplaas, Nhlazatshe and surrounding communities.
With parties displaying campaign posters and promoting their messages, the municipality is becoming a battleground for promises of improved service delivery, employment, infrastructure development, water provision and local economic growth.
The ANC has fielded candidates in 24 wards, while the South African Communist Party (SACP) has candidates in all 25 wards. The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has fielded 22 candidates, followed by the African People’s Convention (APC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), with eight candidates each.
Other parties in the race include ActionSA, the African Independent Congress (AIC), Afrika Mayibuye Movement, All Citizens Party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), National Freedom Party (NFP), Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Service Delivery Party, Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MK Party), United Africans Transformation and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus).
The ANC has not yet publicly revealed its mayoral candidate, leaving residents waiting to learn who the party will put forward to lead the municipality should it retain control.
The election contest comes amid ongoing concerns about service delivery, including water shortages, infrastructure maintenance, municipal finances and access to economic opportunities. These issues are expected to feature prominently as parties seek to convince voters that they have credible plans to address residents’ needs.
According to the supplied figures, the number of candidates contesting each ward ranges from 14 to 16. Ward 17 has the highest number, with 16 candidates, while the remaining wards have between 14 and 15 candidates.
As campaigning gains momentum, parties will be expected to explain how they intend to improve residents’ lives, strengthen accountability and address long-standing municipal challenges.
For the ANC, the challenge will be to defend its position, while opposition parties will seek to persuade voters that they can offer an alternative capable of governing the municipality.
Ultimately, the outcome will depend on the support each party secures across the 25 wards.
