By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Community Newsroom
Seen Here: The Democratic Alliance officially unveiled Khathutshelo Rasilingwane as its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate alongside the party’s newly appointed Federal Leader, signalling a renewed push for service delivery, accountability, and governance reform ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Photo Credit: Community Newsroom
The Democratic Alliance has officially unveiled Khathutshelo Rasilingwane as its mayoral candidate for the City of Ekurhuleni ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 local government elections.
The announcement was made during a campaign event led by senior DA leadership, with the party positioning Rasilingwane as a key figure in its push to reclaim governance credibility and improve service delivery across one of Gauteng’s most strategically important metros.
Currently serving in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Rasilingwane has built a profile around oversight, governance, and infrastructure issues, making her one of the DA’s prominent voices on municipal accountability in the province.
DA promises renewed focus on service delivery
During her address, Rasilingwane emphasised her personal understanding of the struggles many residents continue to face, particularly around unreliable basic services, infrastructure collapse, and unemployment.
She said her leadership vision for Ekurhuleni would prioritise restoring dignity to communities through effective governance, transparent administration, and improved municipal performance.
Among the key priorities outlined were:
- Stabilising electricity and water supply
- Improving waste collection and road maintenance
- Strengthening local law enforcement
- Driving economic growth and job creation
- Tackling corruption and maladministration
The DA has increasingly focused its campaign messaging on frustrations around service delivery failures and governance instability affecting several municipalities across Gauteng.
Ekurhuleni emerges as major political battleground
Political analysts expect Ekurhuleni to become one of the country’s most fiercely contested metros during the upcoming elections due to its economic importance, industrial footprint, and large urban voter population.
The metro has experienced prolonged political turbulence in recent years, including coalition instability, leadership changes, and mounting concerns over infrastructure deterioration and municipal management.
The DA believes Rasilingwane’s governance experience and community-rooted approach could strengthen the party’s position among voters seeking stability and accountability.
Party leaders described the candidate announcement as part of a broader effort to present experienced leadership capable of restoring confidence in local government institutions.
Focus on rebuilding confidence in local government
As campaigning intensifies ahead of the 2026 polls, political parties are expected to place growing emphasis on local governance issues, particularly infrastructure reliability, crime, unemployment, and economic recovery.
For the DA, the Ekurhuleni campaign is likely to become a central battleground in Gauteng, where metro performance is expected to heavily influence voter sentiment.
With election season beginning to gain momentum, the spotlight now turns to how parties intend to address the everyday challenges facing residents in one of South Africa’s most economically significant urban centres.
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