MK Party's Gauteng Mayoral Candidates Vow to Fight Corruption and Crime, South Africans Have Doubts

• The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has announced six of its metro mayoral candidates ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections
• The Johannesburg mayoral candidate and Ekurhuleni candidate announced their plans to tackle corruption if they were elected
• South Africans took to social media to weigh in on the statements by the candidates, but many expressed doubt that it was possible

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG - The uMkhonto weSizwe Party's Gauteng mayoral candidates have outlined their plans to fight against corruption and crime.

Bongani Baloyi and Thulani Shongwe unveiled their plans on 28 August 2026 in Durban, where the party unveiled six of its mayoral candidates for South Africa's major metros. Baloyi was unveiled as the Johannesburg mayoral candidate while Shongwe was unveiled as the Ekurhuleni candidate.

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No MK Party mayoral candidate had been named yet for the City of Tshwane, with the party saying it was not ready to announce who would contest the elections yet.

Baloyi sets his sights on Johannesburg

Baloyi, a former Midvaal mayor who previously served under both the Democratic Alliance and ActionSA, argued that South Africa's largest city requires a leader of genuine credibility and integrity.

"The residents of Johannesburg deserve a leader with credibility, ethical standing and who will respect the mandate bestowed upon them. So, over the next few days and weeks, we will be hitting the ground running, demonstrating that we can turn around a very complex and unique city," he said.

Shongwe takes aim at Ekurhuleni corruption

Shongwe, the MK Party Member of Parliament who previously served on the Ad Hoc Committee, announced his plans to tackle corruption and crime.

"I need that police van because I want to arrest people in Ekurhuleni because the money that's supposed to build houses in Ekurhuleni — people at the Chris Hani informal settlement live in shacks. Two billion rand was stolen for toilets, and there's a certain political party that was involved. So I need that van to put corrupt politicians and tenderpreneurs behind bars," he said.

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How did South Africans react?

The announcements drew scepticism on social media, as Facebook users responded with doubt about the party's ability to deliver on its pledges.

Buzz Bee commented:

"Who let the clowns out now?"

Lorato Komane wrote:

"Please start something different because the Madlanga Commission is on top of it."

Stephen J Gomersall asked:

"How? By staying out of politics?"

Jacky Mangqu KaTomsana added:

"They will be removed and leave the municipality without any mayor"

Emmax Diks Kumile wrote:

"If they are not recalled from their positions."

Other stories about Johannesburg mayoral candidates

• ActionSA has officially elected its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
• The Democratic Alliance announced its 2026 Johannesburg Mayoral Candidate on Saturday, 20 September 2025, in Soweto.
• Gayton McKenzie has officially unveiled the Patriotic Alliance's (PA) candidate for the mayoral post in Johannesburg.

Source: Briefly News