THE Democratic Alliance (DA) has unveiled a five-point election pledge aimed at tackling unemployment, corruption, poor service delivery and crime in Ekurhuleni ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Speaking at the pledge launch at Impala Community Centre in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday, 10 June, DA Federal Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis and the party's Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane MPL, outlined their vision for the metro.
The announcement follows Rasilingwane's engagement tour across Ekurhuleni, where she met residents and community stakeholders to hear their concerns about deteriorating services, infrastructure failures and governance challenges.
Addressing supporters, Rasilingwane said residents had made it clear that they wanted change.
"We have heard the cries of the people of Ekurhuleni, and we have seen their challenges. We are making a bold commitment to change the status quo. Our focus is on growing the economy, creating jobs, stabilising the city's finances, making communities safer and ensuring reliable service delivery," she said.
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She said the DA's election pledges focus on five key priorities:
Growing the local economy: The party plans to stimulate economic growth by ensuring reliable provision of water, electricity and roads, reducing red tape and creating an environment that attracts investment and job creation.
Stabilising the city's finances: The DA says it will improve billing accuracy, address concerns around property valuations, prioritise service delivery in the municipal budget and explore new revenue opportunities linked to tourism and Ekurhuleni's strategic position near OR Tambo International Airport.
Fighting corruption and strengthening accountability: Among the party's proposals are lifestyle and skills audits for senior officials, reviewing employment contracts where necessary, speeding up disciplinary processes and dismissing officials found guilty of misconduct. The DA also wants to strengthen transparency in procurement processes and improve oversight of high-value tenders.
Creating a safer city: The party has pledged to expand and reform the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) through regular vetting of officers, filling vacant posts, improving equipment and introducing body cameras. It also plans to strengthen cooperation between EMPD, SAPS, Community Police Forums and the Border Management Authority.
Delivering sustainable basic services: The DA intends to establish a service delivery monitoring system to identify infrastructure failures and ensure quicker responses. It also wants revenue generated from water and electricity services to be reinvested directly into maintaining and upgrading infrastructure.
Hill-Lewis said the DA was attracting support from voters across the political spectrum and was positioning itself as a viable alternative to the governing coalition in Ekurhuleni.
"This is a growing party that welcomes all South Africans. Many people who have never voted for the DA before are now considering supporting us because they want change."
He described Ekurhuleni as a municipality facing serious governance challenges and said corruption had become a major concern for residents.
"South Africans are regularly confronted with stories of corruption and the violence that often protects it. That culture must be rooted out, and for that you need leaders with integrity," Hill-Lewis said.
He expressed confidence in Rasilingwane's leadership and said the DA was focused on securing enough support to govern the metro after the elections.
Ekurhuleni has faced ongoing challenges in recent years, including service delivery complaints, infrastructure backlogs, power outages, water disruptions and allegations of corruption involving senior municipal officials.
The metro has also experienced political instability, with coalition governments struggling to maintain a stable majority.
