Rise Mzansi mayoral candidate Lukhona Mnguni for the City of Johannesburg says he is confident about winning the race and believes he is a stronger candidate than DA candidate Helen Zille and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba , however, one political analyst disagreed.
Mnguni made the remarks during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday as political parties intensified campaigning ahead of the local government elections on November 4.
The 36-year-old former political commentator and activist has positioned himself as an alternative to what he describes as Johannesburg's failing political leadership.
This comes amid growing frustration over water shortages, power outages, pothole riddled roads, non-functioning traffic lights and street lights, financial instability and poor service delivery.
The contest for the city's top job is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races in the country.
ActionSA has nominated party leader Herman Mashaba, who served as Johannesburg mayor from 2016 to 2019.
The DA has selected former Western Cape premier and former Cape Town mayor Helen Zille, while the Patriotic Alliance (PA) has named current Johannesburg transport MMC Kenny Kunene.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has put forward Human Settlements MMC Mlungisi Mabaso.
Speaking about what sets him apart from his rivals, Mnguni said Johannesburg needs ethical, visionary and incorruptible leadership.
"The political leadership must be visionary, ethical and incorruptible. These are important criteria for a city as large as Johannesburg," he said.
Mnguni argued that his leadership style would focus on appointing capable administrators and allowing professionals to perform their duties without political interference.
He said corruption and political meddling had undermined governance in the city and created an environment in which public officials often face pressure from politicians seeking to influence procurement processes.
Mnguni also compared himself with Mashaba and Zille, saying Johannesburg residents were looking for stability rather than political infighting.
"I bring a steady hand, stability and a level-headed temperament," he said.
“When you put Helen and Herman in one room, it descends into chaos. Their public squabbles do not inspire confidence that they are serious about addressing the city's challenges."
He said his ability to build consensus would help create a stable governing coalition capable of lasting until 2031.
Looking ahead to his first 100 days in office, Mnguni said his immediate priority would be restoring the city's finances and ensuring Johannesburg adopts a fully funded budget.
"The first issue is to ensure that the finances of Johannesburg are sorted and that you've got a funded budget," he said.
He argued that financial stability is essential to restoring investor confidence and enabling the city to deliver services effectively.
Water security would be another major priority, he told the media.
Mnguni said Johannesburg urgently needs a comprehensive water master plan and that implementation should begin within the first 100 days of a new administration.
"Water must be at the apex of our priorities," he said.
He suggested the city could draw on expertise from engineers, industry specialists and international partner cities to help address ongoing water supply challenges.
Mnguni also identified the city's billing system as a major source of financial strain.
He said disputes over incorrect municipal accounts often lead to costly legal battles, leaving residents and businesses unwilling to pay disputed bills while the city's revenue collection suffers.
"Your billing must be properly managed and your collection department properly capacitated," he said.
Addressing corruption, Mnguni proposed greater transparency in municipal procurement processes, including recording bid evaluation and adjudication committee meetings and making transcripts publicly available.
"If you don't achieve transparency in the process, people will continue manipulating procurement systems to steal from the city," he said.
He also advocated using technology and artificial intelligence to speed up procurement processes, improve oversight and identify inflated contract prices.
According to Mnguni, reducing delays in infrastructure delivery and rooting out procurement fraud would be critical to improving municipal performance.
The former political commentator said beyond governance and finances, Johannesburg's deteriorating appearance has become a major concern.
"Joburg is filthy," he said. "The potholes are important, but the filth needs to be removed from the streets. You need road markings, functioning traffic lights and clean public spaces."
Mnguni said the city should not still be struggling with basic service delivery issues in 2026.
"We should be talking about the future of Johannesburg," he said. "Instead, we are still talking about potholes, street lights and road markings."
He also highlighted crime an…
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