Johannesburg – Political leaders vying to govern Johannesburg clashed over service delivery, coalition instability, immigration, corruption and the city’s future during a heated mayoral debate ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
The debate, held at Wits University on Thursday and co-hosted by Sunday Times, Sowetan and Business Day in partnership with Wits, brought together ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, EFF leader Julius Malema, IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba.
Arena Holdings brings you the City of Joburg’s mayoral debate. https://t.co/rzOXwAFAkh
— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) October 1, 2026
Johannesburg’s history of unstable coalitions emerged as one of the central issues, with Hill-Lewis arguing that the city needs a stable administration and saying it had become a “failed state” under ANC-led governance over the past decade.
He said the DA would seek an outright majority and appoint a city manager based on competence rather than political considerations.
The debate also saw Hill-Lewis and Malema repeatedly clash over the EFF’s role in coalition governments and allegations linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. Malema rejected claims that the EFF had contributed to coalition instability, while disputing Hill-Lewis’s assessment of the party’s record.
Mashaba, who served as Johannesburg mayor from 2016 to 2019, turned his criticism towards the DA, accusing it of corruption and claiming he had fired three DA MMCs for corruption during his tenure. Hill-Lewis challenged Mashaba to focus on Johannesburg’s current problems rather than his disputes with former DA leader Helen Zille.
Immigration also featured prominently. Malema opposed xenophobic vigilantism and argued that ordinary citizens should not determine whether foreigners are legally in South Africa. Hlabisa, meanwhile, maintained that the IFP opposed the continued presence of undocumented foreign nationals. Mashaba also identified illegal immigration as one of Johannesburg’s major challenges.
ANC 1st Deputy Secretary-General Cde Nomvula Mokonyane represented the ANC at the City of Johannesburg Leaders Debate at Wits, engaging on key challenges facing the city and the importance of responsive, accountable and people-centred local government.#LGE2026 #VoteANC2026 pic.twitter.com/megzrHwJuH
— Gauteng ANC (@GautengANC) October 2, 2026
Mokonyane defended the ANC’s plans for Johannesburg, pointing to efforts to fill strategic vacancies, improve revenue management and strengthen municipal entities. She said the party wanted water and electricity revenue to be ring-fenced and proposed reviving programmes aimed at employment and economic opportunities.
The debate comes amid an increasingly fragmented Johannesburg political landscape.
At least 82 parties are contesting Johannesburg.
The city’s mayoral race includes several experienced political figures competing against a backdrop of deteriorating infrastructure and service-delivery concerns.
The contest has already produced sharp exchanges between the DA and ActionSA. The two parties clashed over Mashaba’s record as mayor, with DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille accusing Mashaba of having been a “front for Julius Malema”, a claim reflecting the wider political dispute over the DA-EFF relationship during Mashaba’s tenure.
With voters due to go to the polls on November 4, Johannesburg’s coalition history, service-delivery failures, immigration and economic pressures are likely to remain central issues in the campaign.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
