JOHANNESBURG - Rise Mzansi says they can offer voters an alternative to the ANC.
These are the words of Rise Mzansi's Johannesburg mayoral candidate Lukhona Mnguni, who was giving reasons why residents should trust an untested party with the country’s largest municipal budget.
He was speaking during an election town hall discussion hosted by eNCA at Wits University on Sunday.
Founded in 2023, Rise Mzansi is contesting the local government elections for the first time in November.
READ | Parties campaign in KwaZulu-Natal
But Rise Mzansi says it has what it takes to lead the country's largest economic hub, with Mnguni arguing that years in government by other parties have not necessarily translated into service delivery.
He pointed to the ANC’s 32 years in local government, arguing that residents are still grappling with basic service delivery, from broken roads to inadequate streetlights and safety concerns.
He said choosing the right candidate should be measured by competence and the ability to deliver
“Sometimes when we talk about experience, it must not be tenure; it must be about what vision you bring to the party,” he said.
Looking at the core issues in the country's politics, Mnguni said one of the problems is that “seriously minded" people have moved out and away.
This is why new leaders are needed.
READ | ANC fails in bid to get 181 candidates onto election ballot
The ANC’s Jacob Mamabolo remains firm in their ability to lead the city and warned against minimising experience.
He added that, “once you hear a political party trivialising experience and knowledge, then as a voter you should be deeply worried about that.”
Mamabolo referred to the party’s six-pillar manifesto, which states that the ANC has acknowledged weaknesses in local government and committed itself to self-correction.
"The ANC has a rich experience which will help us to be able to move forward,” Mamabolo said.