THE INTERVIEW: Fresh face, bold policies — EFF’s Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng outlines her vision for Joburg
The EFF’s Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng has injected fresh energy into the Johannesburg mayoral race. She sat down with Daily Maverick to discuss in detail her strategic roadmap for the city, which focuses on expanding 24-hour healthcare, writing off indigent debt and insourcing municipal workers to drive local job creation.
Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, the candidate for Johannesburg mayoral seat representing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), spoke with Daily Maverick about her vision for the city. The clinician, author, and former UN special rapporteur for the right to health aims to secure a 51% majority to avoid forming a political coalition. Her policy proposals focus on expanding 24-hour healthcare, writing off indigent debt, and insourcing municipal workers to create local jobs.
Mofokeng has over two decades of experience advocating for universal health access, HIV care, reproductive healthcare, and youth-friendly health services. She has served as a commissioner for Gender Equity and on the boards of various health organizations, including the Soul City Institute for Social Justice and the Global Advisory Board for Sexual Health and Wellbeing. In 2020, she was appointed as the special rapporteur on the right to health by the United Nations.
During her campaign, Mofokeng has consulted with residents, taxi industry members, informal traders, and small business owners to shape her human-rights-based approach to governance. She has pledged to eliminate corruption, consolidate municipal services into a single platform for residents to resolve billing issues, and hold regular consultations with stakeholders.
When asked about her qualifications for the role, Mofokeng emphasized her extensive experience in politics, policy-making, and global health governance. She highlighted her contributions to South African health policy, serving as a commissioner at the Commission for Gender Equality and working on various health and social development programs. Her global experience in multilateral systems, diplomacy, and resource mobilization has given her a unique perspective on the challenges facing Johannesburg.
Key governance issues identified by Mofokeng include the lack of stability in executive leadership and frequent changes due to corruption and unsustainable political coalitions. She aims to address inherited financial mismanagement and improve public services by expanding 24-hour clinics, supporting the health system, and introducing a digital patient management system.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
