Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
Philani Mavundla returns to contest eThekwini mayoralty
Philani Mavundla is running for mayor of eThekwini, the metro that includes Durban in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
He held a council seat for the Abantu Batho Congress, or ABC, after the 2021 municipal elections, when the party helped the ANC retain control of the metro.
Mavundla became deputy mayor but was later removed after relations between the ANC and ABC worsened.
He says the city’s potholes, crumbling infrastructure and poor services show that it needs stronger leadership.
EThekwini has serious water problems, and the city has cited aging pipes, leaks and sabotage among the causes of interrupted supply.
Mavundla says about 62% of treated water is lost, costing R2.4 billion a year, and promises to reduce those losses by at least 20% in his first year if elected.
He also proposes using waste and solar power, and building a local household gas economy; voters will choose the city’s leadership in the November 4 municipal elections.
Philani Mavundla is running for eThekwini mayor in the 2026 municipal elections.
The former deputy mayor says the city needs stronger leadership and action to address failing infrastructure and water losses.
He says eThekwini loses about 62% of its treated water and promises to cut those losses by at least 20% in his first year in office.
Mavundla also proposes waste-to-energy projects, rooftop solar and a local household gas economy.
His Abantu Batho Congress previously helped the ANC retain control of the metro after the 2021 elections.
- Who
- Philani Mavundla, the former eThekwini deputy mayor and leader of the Abantu Batho Congress.
- What
- He is contesting the eThekwini mayoralty and has outlined plans on water, energy and infrastructure.
- When
- Ahead of the 2026 municipal elections, scheduled for November 4.
- Where
- eThekwini metro, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Why
- He says the city needs better leadership and action on infrastructure and service delivery.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mavundla entered eThekwini’s council as an Abantu Batho Congress representative after the municipal elections.
The ANC appointed Mavundla deputy mayor, but he was later removed after relations between the ANC and his party soured.
Mavundla returned to contest the eThekwini mayoralty.
- Water losses
- About 62% of treated water is lost as non-revenue water.
- First-year target
- Cut non-revenue water by at least 20%.
- Projected first-year funding
- R480 million for repairs, according to Mavundla.
- Election date
- November 4, 2026.
- Party representation
- The Abantu Batho Congress is represented in 25 of 257 municipal councils nationwide.
What people are saying
The eThekwini metro is choking. And it is not choking because we lack money. It is choking because of a lack of leadership, a lack of political will and an appetite for empty promises and political speeches while the city rots.
In our first year in office, we will cut non-revenue water by at least 20%, unlocking R480 million in year one alone directly for repairs.
Sources
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