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NewsbriefSouth Africa, briefly.
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Parties hold final rallies before Wednesday's local elections

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

The ANC, EFF, DA and MK party made their last appeals to voters over the weekend. Service delivery and corruption dominated the campaigns, and the government of national unity has set aside R54bn for services in the eight metros.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa gave the keynote address at the ANC Siyanqoba rally in KuGompo City on Sunday. He said: "We only win by convincing voters that this election is important." He also said the ANC has a clear and credible plan to build better communities.

The EFF held its Tshela Thupa rally at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday. EFF leader Julius Malema said municipalities have been captured by service providers, contractors, corrupt officials and politicians. The DA held its final rally in Mamelodi, Tshwane, on Saturday, where federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis urged supporters to make the DA the biggest party in the country.

The MK party held its Sithatha Omasipala rally on Sunday. Party leader Jacob Zuma was expected to give the keynote address. The R54bn is meant mainly to fix water and electricity infrastructure.

Opposition parties said they expect the ANC to perform poorly. They said voters have grown disillusioned with poor service delivery.

Key facts

Who
Cyril Ramaphosa (ANC president, delivered keynote at ANC Siyanqoba rally); Julius Malema (EFF leader); Geordin Hill-Lewis (DA federal leader); Jacob Zuma (MK party leader, expected to deliver keynote at MK rally)
What
Parties including the ANC, EFF and DA held final campaign rallies over the weekend, appealing to voters before the local government elections on Wednesday; campaigns on service delivery and corruption dominated. The MK party also held a final rally on Sunday, where Jacob Zuma was expected to speak.
When
1 November 2026
Where
South Africa, KuGompo City, Soweto
Status
Reported

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