Rise Mzansi’s Lukhona Mnguni has expressed confidence about his mayoral bid and says he is a stronger candidate than Helen Zille and Herman Mashaba.
Image: Facebook/Rise Mzansi
Rise Mzansi mayoral candidate Lukhona Mnguni for the City of Johannesburg says he is confident about winning the race and believes he is a stronger candidate than DA candidate Helen Zille and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, however, one political analyst disagreed.
Mnguni made the remarks during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday as political parties intensified campaigning ahead of the local government elections on November 4.
The 36-year-old former political commentator and activist has positioned himself as an alternative to what he describes as Johannesburg's failing political leadership.
This comes amid growing frustration over water shortages, power outages, pothole riddled roads, non-functioning traffic lights and street lights, financial instability and poor service delivery.
The contest for the city's top job is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races in the country.
ActionSA has nominated party leader Herman Mashaba, who served as Johannesburg mayor from 2016 to 2019.
The DA has selected former Western Cape premier and former Cape Town mayor Helen Zille, while the Patriotic Alliance (PA) has named current Johannesburg transport MMC Kenny Kunene.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has put forward Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso.
Speaking about what sets him apart from his rivals, Mnguni said Johannesburg needs ethical, visionary and incorruptible leadership.
"The political leadership must be visionary, ethical and incorruptible. These are important criteria for a city as large as Johannesburg," he said.
Mnguni argued that his leadership style would focus on appointing capable administrators and allowing professionals to perform their duties without political interference.
He said corruption and political meddling had undermined governance in the city and created an environment in which public officials often face pressure from politicians seeking to influence procurement processes.
Mnguni also compared himself with Mashaba and Zille, saying Johannesburg residents were looking for stability rather than political infighting.
"I bring a steady hand, stability and a level-headed temperament," he said.
“When you put Helen and Herman in one room, it descends into chaos. Their public squabbles do not inspire confidence that they are serious about addressing the city's challenges."
He said his ability to build consensus would help create a stable governing coalition capable of lasting until 2031.
Looking ahead to his first 100 days in office, Mnguni said his immediate priority would be restoring the city's finances and ensuring Johannesburg adopts a fully funded budget.
"The first issue is to ensure that the finances of Johannesburg are sorted and that you've got a funded budget," he said.
He argued that financial stability is essential to restoring investor confidence and enabling the city to deliver services effectively.
Water security would be another major priority, he told the media.
Mnguni said Johannesburg urgently needs a comprehensive water master plan and that implementation should begin within the first 100 days of a new administration.
"Water must be at the apex of our priorities," he said.
He suggested the city could draw on expertise from engineers, industry specialists and international partner cities to help address ongoing water supply challenges.
Mnguni also identified the city's billing system as a major source of financial strain.
He said disputes over incorrect municipal accounts often lead to costly legal battles, leaving residents and businesses unwilling to pay disputed bills while the city's revenue collection suffers.
"Your billing must be properly managed and your collection department properly capacitated," he said.
Addressing corruption, Mnguni proposed greater transparency in municipal procurement processes, including recording bid evaluation and adjudication committee meetings and making transcripts publicly available.
"If you don't achieve transparency in the process, people will continue manipulating procurement systems to steal from the city," he said.
He also advocated using technology and artificial intelligence to speed up procurement processes, improve oversight and identify inflated contract prices.
According to Mnguni, reducing delays in infrastructure delivery and rooting out procurement fraud would be critical to improving municipal performance.
The former political commentator said beyond governance and finances, Johannesburg's deteriorating appearance has become a major concern.
"Joburg is filthy," he said. "The potholes are important, but the filth needs to be removed from the streets. You need road markings, functioning traffic lights and clean public spaces."
Mnguni said the city should not still be struggling with basic service delivery issues in 2026.
"We should be talking about the future of Johannesburg," he said. "Instead, we are still talking about potholes, street lights and road markings."
He also highlighted crime and public safety as major obstacles to economic growth, arguing that businesses and communities are increasingly forced to spend money on private security because residents no longer feel safe.
"People do not feel safe," he said.
Rise Mzansi’s mayoral candidate for the City of Joburg Lukhona Mnguni, says he is a stronger candidate than Helen Zille and Herman Mashaba.
Image: Supplied
Mnguni said the party’s campaign would focus on building a cleaner, safer and better-run Johannesburg.
"We want to vote crime out and ensure that we build a safe and clean Joburg," he said.
Speaking to IOL News, political analyst Dr Bernard Sebake, Dean of Students at the Central University of Technology in the Free State, said Lukhona Mnguni may struggle to make an electoral breakthrough.
Speaking to IOL News, political analyst Dr Bernard Sebake, Dean of Students at the Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Free State, said Lukhona Mnguni may struggle to make an electoral breakthrough.
“Like any individual contesting elections, Mr Lukhona Mnguni cannot go into the elections in a deficit mode, meaning he must inspire confidence among the electorate in Gauteng that he is there to stand for their rights and ensure service delivery as they have anticipated,” Sebake said.
He added that a key question is whether Mnguni is sufficiently known in Gauteng for voters to trust him.
“But obviously, the question is whether Mr Mnguni is known in Gauteng to an extent that citizens may trust him. That is something that ought to be seen as we proceed,” he said.
Sebake said Mnguni’s prospects could also be limited by the relative newness of the party, which was founded in April 2023.
“But as for my note, Mr Mnguni may come as a new individual contesting these elections in Gauteng, but he might not stand a chance given that his party is still fairly new and has not demonstrated an ability to represent any constituency in governance,” he said.
He also questioned how Mnguni’s campaign priorities and leadership approach would differ from those of Zille, Mashaba and other candidates.
“The challenges faced by citizens in South Africa are relatively the same. All it requires is what difference he would bring in terms of a strategy for service delivery for the people of Gauteng,” Sebake said.
“But the reality is that, as an individual who is reputed for instilling accountability in other leaders in governance, he may operate on a similar level to those who are known, but he still has a deficit in that he lacks a track record of being trusted in governance or demonstrating that he can be trusted in governance,” Sebake added.
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