Members of our national leadership, fellow ActionSA leaders, our councillor candidates, and most importantly, our ActionSA activists from across South Africa.
Today, I want to share a story with you. It is the story of Tshwane, a city that has faced difficult times, but also a city where we have started to show that things can be different.
For almost two years, I have had the honour of serving as Executive Mayor of Tshwane.
It has been a challenging journey, but it has also reminded me why good leadership matters and how much can change when people are prepared to do the hard work.
On Monday, I shared my End of Term Report with the residents of Tshwane, reflecting on where we started, the progress we have made and the work that still needs to be done.
Today, we take that story further by introducing the team that will help us carry this work into every community across our capital.
When I became Mayor in October 2024, I found a City in serious financial trouble.
Tshwane had gone four years without a fully funded budget and was carrying more than R13 billion in debt, including approximately R6.7 billion owed to Eskom.
But behind those billions were people who were struggling to live their daily lives.
Families in Ikageng had gone eight years without reliable water, residents in Soshanguve were dealing with repeated power cuts, and approximately one in three economically active residents could not find work.
One of our first tasks was to get the City’s finances under control.
Through discussions with the Minister of Electricity and Energy, we reached a payment agreement with Eskom to help reduce the City’s debt and improve its financial position.
By March 2026, we had reduced the City’s Eskom debt, bringing it down from around R6.67 billion to R4.13 billion.
We also improved the way the City collects revenue, controlled spending more carefully and worked towards financial stability.
As a result, Tshwane moved from four consecutive unfunded budgets to fully funded budgets for 2025/26 and 2026/27.
By July 2026, the City’s cash reserves had grown from approximately R835 million when we took office to around R1.8 billion after payroll, giving us a stronger foundation to meet our responsibilities.
Yet we know that life has become difficult for many families, and some residents simply cannot afford to pay their municipal accounts.
That is why more than R4 billion in qualifying municipal debt has been written off for over 85,000 indigent households, offering relief to people who need it most.
We have also made progress in improving the City’s audit results, reducing the number of audit qualification areas from 13 in 2022/23 to six in 2023/24 and just two in 2024/25.
Getting the City’s finances in order was only the beginning of the Tale of Tshwane.
In April 2025, we adopted the Tshwane Economic Revitalisation Strategy to help attract investment, grow the economy and create jobs.
Our goal is to achieve average annual economic growth of 3.9%, attract between R17 billion and R26 billion in new investment, and create more than 80,000 jobs by 2029.
There are encouraging signs of progress, with the City’s verified investment pipeline growing from approximately R2 billion in June 2025 to more than R20 billion in June 2026.
During the final quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, two investments worth more than R6 billion were confirmed, with approximately 400 jobs associated with them.
We are also moving ahead with 17 Strategic Urban Developments, including Thorntree and Mooikloof Mega City, while a dedicated Catalytic Investment Unit within the Tshwane Economic Development Agency works to address the problems that can delay development.
These are the people who help keep our communities going, and their dreams deserve a fair chance.
Consider the story of Mr Bafana Majola from Bronkhorstspruit, whose business has grown by more than 40% and continues to sustain five jobs.
His progress shows what can happen when local businesses have room to grow and when entrepreneurs are given a chance to build something for themselves.
Behind those five jobs are people who can earn an income, support their families and look towards the future with greater hope.
That is why we adopted the Informal Trading and Township Economies By-law and introduced an online platform for business licences and permits, making it easier for entrepreneurs to operate within the City’s requirements.
In August 2026, the City issued its first 77 trading permits to compliant applicants in Olievenhoutbosch, following more than 1,600 expressions of interest.
We are also working to give young people a better chance through the Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme, which had attracted more than 9,200 registrations by the end of July 2026.
Of those young people, over 1,500 had received training, skills development or referrals to opportunities.
We understand that young people need more than encouragement; they need real opportunities to
Fellow ActionSA leaders and activists,
The story of Tshwane is also about the kind of city we want our children to grow up in.
Through our Reclaim Our City operations, we have been working to address illegal businesses, unsafe buildings and unlawful activities that have affected our inner city.
During an operation at Ipi Ntombi Sports Bar, our teams found more than 40 small rooms linked to illegal sex work, along with serious safety problems and unlawful building extensions.
The establishment was closed because the conditions found there could not be allowed to continue.
At the K20 Hotel, our teams uncovered a 54-room operation being used for illegal sex work and accommodation, raising serious concerns about the safety and living conditions of the people involved.
Hundreds of by-law enforcement operations have helped us tackle unlawful activities, while cooperation with Home Affairs and other authorities has resulted in the arrest of more than 1,400 undocumented foreign nationals.
We are also rebuilding the Tshwane Metro Police Department so that our City has a stronger capacity to protect residents and enforce the law.
Recruitment for 200 additional officers and trainees began during the 2025/26 financial year.
We all know the frustration of opening a tap and finding no water, sitting in the dark during another power cut or driving around potholes on the way to work.
For some families, these are not occasional inconveniences. They are problems that have affected their lives for years.
In Ikageng, families who had waited eight years for reliable water have seen their supply restored, bringing relief to a community that had waited far too long for this basic service.
Across Tshwane, more than 28 kilometres of ageing water pipelines have been replaced, while teams continue to repair leaks, reservoirs and pump stations to improve water supply.
In Hammanskraal, the completion of two modules of the Klipdrift Package Plant has increased water-treatment capacity, although further work is still needed to provide residents with a lasting solution.
We know how deeply the water challenges in Hammanskraal have affected families, and we recognise that residents need lasting answers, not promises that leave them waiting year after year.
The City has also introduced the Electricity Stabilisation Plan, which began in February 2026 and guides work to repair and renew electricity infrastructure that has suffered from ageing equipment and years of poor maintenance.
In Soshanguve, the upgrade of the IA Substation has been completed, while work on the JJ powerline is helping to improve electricity reliability.
At the heart of this story is a simple belief: every person deserves to live with dignity and to feel that their municipality has not forgotten about them.
Sometimes, the meaning of that belief becomes clear through the experience of one person.
Gogo Mafati Elizabeth Nxumalo is 90 years old, and after waiting for decades for the title deed to her home in New Eersterus, she finally received it this year.
Imagine waiting for so many years to receive the document that confirms that the home you have lived in belongs to you.
Her story forms part of the more than 2,800 title deeds issued during this term, helping families secure ownership of their homes and build something lasting for their loved ones.
Fellow ActionSA leaders and activists,
I have shared the Tale of Tshwane because it tells us something important about the future of our country.
If we want to fix South Africa, we must start by fixing local government, because this is where people feel the impact of government in their everyday lives.
A resident does not experience government through a policy document or a press statement. They experience it when they open a tap, put out their rubbish, drive to work, walk through their neighbourhood or try to earn an honest living.
They want a government that respects their money, keeps its promises, fixes what is broken and treats them with dignity.
We have made progress, but we know that the job is not finished. There are still residents waiting for services, young people searching for work and families who need more support.
That is why today matters so much.
We are not only telling the Tale of Tshwane; we are introducing the people who will help write its next chapter.
Our councillor candidates will be the faces residents see in their communities, the people they turn to when something goes wrong and the people who must make sure that government listens to their concerns.
To every candidate being introduced today, I want you to remember one thing: being a councillor is not about a title, a position or the privileges that come with public office.
It is about serving people, standing with them when times are difficult and being willing to answer when they ask what you have done for their community.
Trust is earned through the small things we do every day, through the calls we return, the problems we follow up on and the promises we keep.
Residents must never have to wonder whether their leaders care about what is happening in their streets, homes and communities.
As ActionSA, we must show through our actions that politics can be different and that public office can be used to improve people’s lives.
Together, we are working towards a Tshwane with sound finances, a growing economy, reliable infrastructure, safer communities and better opportunities for young people.
We must also remember that progress means little if it only reaches some communities while others continue to struggle.
Every resident deserves to feel that Tshwane belongs to them and that their future matters.
The Tale of Tshwane is far from finished, and the next chapter gives us an opportunity to do even more for the people we serve.
We have started turning the page on failed government, but the real test will be whether we continue to improve people’s lives and earn their trust through the work we do.
When residents see the green flag of ActionSA in their communities, it must stand for something they can believe in: leaders who listen, a government that works and a genuine commitment to fixing what is broken.
People have heard enough promises from politicians who disappear once the votes have been counted.
Our responsibility is to show them that their trust is not misplaced and that their hopes for a better city are worth fighting for.
Together, let us turn the page on failed government and build a better Tshwane.
Thank you.
The Tale of Tshwane: Turning the Page on Failed Government in our Capital
Members of our national leadership, fellow ActionSA leaders, our councillor candidates, and most importantly, our ActionSA activists from across South Africa.
Today, I want to share a story with you. It is the story of Tshwane, a city that has faced difficult times, but also a city where we have started to show that things can be different.
For almost two years, I have had the honour of serving as Executive Mayor of Tshwane.
It has been a challenging journey, but it has also reminded me why good leadership matters and how much can change when people are prepared to do the hard work.
On Monday, I shared my End of Term Report with the residents of Tshwane, reflecting on where we started, the progress we have made and the work that still needs to be done.
Today, we take that story further by introducing the team that will help us carry this work into every community across our capital.
When I became Mayor in October 2024, I found a City in serious financial trouble.
Tshwane had gone four years without a fully funded budget and was carrying more than R13 billion in debt, including approximately R6.7 billion owed to Eskom.
But behind those billions were people who were struggling to live their daily lives.
Families in Ikageng had gone eight years without reliable water, residents in Soshanguve were dealing with repeated power cuts, and approximately one in three economically active residents could not find work.
One of our first tasks was to get the City’s finances under control.
Through discussions with the Minister of Electricity and Energy, we reached a payment agreement with Eskom to help reduce the City’s debt and improve its financial position.
By March 2026, we had reduced the City’s Eskom debt, bringing it down from around R6.67 billion to R4.13 billion.
We also improved the way the City collects revenue, controlled spending more carefully and worked towards financial stability.
As a result, Tshwane moved from four consecutive unfunded budgets to fully funded budgets for 2025/26 and 2026/27.
By July 2026, the City’s cash reserves had grown from approximately R835 million when we took office to around R1.8 billion after payroll, giving us a stronger foundation to meet our responsibilities.
Yet we know that life has become difficult for many families, and some residents simply cannot afford to pay their municipal accounts.
That is why more than R4 billion in qualifying municipal debt has been written off for over 85,000 indigent households, offering relief to people who need it most.
We have also made progress in improving the City’s audit results, reducing the number of audit qualification areas from 13 in 2022/23 to six in 2023/24 and just two in 2024/25.
Getting the City’s finances in order was only the beginning of the Tale of Tshwane.
In April 2025, we adopted the Tshwane Economic Revitalisation Strategy to help attract investment, grow the economy and create jobs.
Our goal is to achieve average annual economic growth of 3.9%, attract between R17 billion and R26 billion in new investment, and create more than 80,000 jobs by 2029.
There are encouraging signs of progress, with the City’s verified investment pipeline growing from approximately R2 billion in June 2025 to more than R20 billion in June 2026.
During the final quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, two investments worth more than R6 billion were confirmed, with approximately 400 jobs associated with them.
We are also moving ahead with 17 Strategic Urban Developments, including Thorntree and Mooikloof Mega City, while a dedicated Catalytic Investment Unit within the Tshwane Economic Development Agency works to address the problems that can delay development.
These are the people who help keep our communities going, and their dreams deserve a fair chance.
Consider the story of Mr Bafana Majola from Bronkhorstspruit, whose business has grown by more than 40% and continues to sustain five jobs.
His progress shows what can happen when local businesses have room to grow and when entrepreneurs are given a chance to build something for themselves.
Behind those five jobs are people who can earn an income, support their families and look towards the future with greater hope.
That is why we adopted the Informal Trading and Township Economies By-law and introduced an online platform for business licences and permits, making it easier for entrepreneurs to operate within the City’s requirements.
In August 2026, the City issued its first 77 trading permits to compliant applicants in Olievenhoutbosch, following more than 1,600 expressions of interest.
We are also working to give young people a better chance through the Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme, which had attracted more than 9,200 registrations by the end of July 2026.
Of those young people, over 1,500 had received training, skills development or referrals to opportunities.
We understand that young people need more than encouragement; they need real opportunities to
Fellow ActionSA leaders and activists,
The story of Tshwane is also about the kind of city we want our children to grow up in.
Through our Reclaim Our City operations, we have been working to address illegal businesses, unsafe buildings and unlawful activities that have affected our inner city.
During an operation at Ipi Ntombi Sports Bar, our teams found more than 40 small rooms linked to illegal sex work, along with serious safety problems and unlawful building extensions.
The establishment was closed because the conditions found there could not be allowed to continue.
At the K20 Hotel, our teams uncovered a 54-room operation being used for illegal sex work and accommodation, raising serious concerns about the safety and living conditions of the people involved.
Hundreds of by-law enforcement operations have helped us tackle unlawful activities, while cooperation with Home Affairs and other authorities has resulted in the arrest of more than 1,400 undocumented foreign nationals.
We are also rebuilding the Tshwane Metro Police Department so that our City has a stronger capacity to protect residents and enforce the law.
Recruitment for 200 additional officers and trainees began during the 2025/26 financial year.
We all know the frustration of opening a tap and finding no water, sitting in the dark during another power cut or driving around potholes on the way to work.
For some families, these are not occasional inconveniences. They are problems that have affected their lives for years.
In Ikageng, families who had waited eight years for reliable water have seen their supply restored, bringing relief to a community that had waited far too long for this basic service.
Across Tshwane, more than 28 kilometres of ageing water pipelines have been replaced, while teams continue to repair leaks, reservoirs and pump stations to improve water supply.
In Hammanskraal, the completion of two modules of the Klipdrift Package Plant has increased water-treatment capacity, although further work is still needed to provide residents with a lasting solution.
We know how deeply the water challenges in Hammanskraal have affected families, and we recognise that residents need lasting answers, not promises that leave them waiting year after year.
The City has also introduced the Electricity Stabilisation Plan, which began in February 2026 and guides work to repair and renew electricity infrastructure that has suffered from ageing equipment and years of poor maintenance.
In Soshanguve, the upgrade of the IA Substation has been completed, while work on the JJ powerline is helping to improve electricity reliability.
At the heart of this story is a simple belief: every person deserves to live with dignity and to feel that their municipality has not forgotten about them.
Sometimes, the meaning of that belief becomes clear through the experience of one person.
Gogo Mafati Elizabeth Nxumalo is 90 years old, and after waiting for decades for the title deed to her home in New Eersterus, she finally received it this year.
Imagine waiting for so many years to receive the document that confirms that the home you have lived in belongs to you.
Her story forms part of the more than 2,800 title deeds issued during this term, helping families secure ownership of their homes and build something lasting for their loved ones.
Fellow ActionSA leaders and activists,
I have shared the Tale of Tshwane because it tells us something important about the future of our country.
If we want to fix South Africa, we must start by fixing local government, because this is where people feel the impact of government in their everyday lives.
A resident does not experience government through a policy document or a press statement. They experience it when they open a tap, put out their rubbish, drive to work, walk through their neighbourhood or try to earn an honest living.
They want a government that respects their money, keeps its promises, fixes what is broken and treats them with dignity.
We have made progress, but we know that the job is not finished. There are still residents waiting for services, young people searching for work and families who need more support.
That is why today matters so much.
We are not only telling the Tale of Tshwane; we are introducing the people who will help write its next chapter.
Our councillor candidates will be the faces residents see in their communities, the people they turn to when something goes wrong and the people who must make sure that government listens to their concerns.
To every candidate being introduced today, I want you to remember one thing: being a councillor is not about a title, a position or the privileges that come with public office.
It is about serving people, standing with them when times are difficult and being willing to answer when they ask what you have done for their community.
Trust is earned through the small things we do every day, through the calls we return, the problems we follow up on and the promises we keep.
Residents must never have to wonder whether their leaders care about what is happening in their streets, homes and communities.
As ActionSA, we must show through our actions that politics can be different and that public office can be used to improve people’s lives.
Together, we are working towards a Tshwane with sound finances, a growing economy, reliable infrastructure, safer communities and better opportunities for young people.
We must also remember that progress means little if it only reaches some communities while others continue to struggle.
Every resident deserves to feel that Tshwane belongs to them and that their future matters.
The Tale of Tshwane is far from finished, and the next chapter gives us an opportunity to do even more for the people we serve.
We have started turning the page on failed government, but the real test will be whether we continue to improve people’s lives and earn their trust through the work we do.
When residents see the green flag of ActionSA in their communities, it must stand for something they can believe in: leaders who listen, a government that works and a genuine commitment to fixing what is broken.
People have heard enough promises from politicians who disappear once the votes have been counted.
Our responsibility is to show them that their trust is not misplaced and that their hopes for a better city are worth fighting for.
Together, let us turn the page on failed government and build a better Tshwane.
Thank you.