The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has singled out access to clean, uncontaminated water as a central promise for Mpumalanga ahead of the 4 November 2026 local government elections. Speaking at the party’s provincial manifesto launch in eMalahleni, party leader Julius Malema framed safe drinking water as a basic right and tied the pledge to job creation for local residents.
Water, health and local labour
At the SY Mthimunye stadium in eMalahleni, which drew a large turnout despite cold temperatures, the EFF set out service-delivery commitments it says will be prioritised if it gains influence in municipal councils. The party emphasised that repairs to burst pipes and water infrastructure should not be outsourced to external contractors but undertaken by residents from affected communities.
“Fighters, we must make sure that on the 4th of November we are at the forefront of the election. Why? Because we want to deliver water to our people; our people want water and they don’t want dirty water from Witbank that is contaminated by underground mining; they want clean water, drinkable water that will not cause diarrhoea.”
The reference to Witbank highlights ongoing concerns in parts of the province about water quality and the legacy effects of coal mining. The EFF’s statement links water provision directly to public health risks such as diarrhoeal disease while also framing investment in repairs as an employment measure for local workers.
What the party promises in Mpumalanga
At the provincial launch the EFF outlined general goals for municipal service delivery across the province. While the party used the event to broaden its national critique of the governing party, its manifesto items for Mpumalanga put water and informal settlement services near the top of the list.
- Priority for delivering safe, drinkable water to households affected by contaminated supplies.
- Repair and maintenance work on water infrastructure to be awarded to local contractors and residents.
- Formalisation of informal settlements, including surveying to secure access to basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation.
The EFF said these measures would be implemented at a municipal level if voters back the party on 4 November. The launch also included calls for broader political change, with the party urging voters to use the election to hold the African National Congress (ANC) to account for what the EFF described as failures on poverty and corruption.
Local impact and the challenge of contaminated supplies
Concerns about water contamination in parts of the Mpumalanga highveld are longstanding and are tied to industrial and mining activity. Municipalities face the twin challenges of ageing infrastructure and environmental pressures. The EFF’s pledge to limit external contractors and employ local people will require municipal capacity to manage contracts, as well as technical oversight to ensure water quality standards are met.
Residents and community organisations in eMalahleni and surrounding areas have repeatedly raised worries about water discolouration and the potential health effects of contaminated water. The EFF’s promise to prioritise clean water taps into those anxieties and reframes infrastructure work as both a public-health intervention and a local jobs programme.
What voters should watch for
Voters considering the party’s proposals will need detail on several implementation questions that were not supplied at the launch. These include:
- How municipal budgets would be reprioritised to fund the promised water works and formalisation projects.
- Standards and monitoring mechanisms to ensure water distributed is safe to drink.
- Procurement and labour arrangements to guarantee that local residents gain sustainable employment rather than short-term contracts.
| Issue | What the EFF promised |
|---|---|
| Water quality | Deliver clean, drinkable water to affected communities |
| Local jobs | Give repair work on burst pipes to local residents rather than outside contractors |
| Informal settlements | Formalise settlements through surveying to enable basic-service access |
The manifesto launch in eMalahleni formed part of the EFF’s wider campaign ahead of the 4 November local government elections. Supporters at the event voiced frustration with unemployment and racial discrimination, and expressed hope that the party’s local pledges would translate into tangible improvements in service delivery.
As the election approaches, municipal officials, community activists and voters will be watching for concrete plans and timelines that can turn manifesto promises into measurable improvements in water quality and access.
Nomsa Mahlangu
Mpumalanga Correspondent (Mbombela)
