Al Jama-ah says open to talks with all parties except DA

Al Jama-ah, the political party in Johannesburg, has expressed openness to discussions with all parties except the Democratic Alliance (DA) after the upcoming local government elections. The party's candidate for Johannesburg mayoral, Ashley Mama, stated that Al Jama-ah will not engage with the DA due to its position on Israel and Palestine.

Mama emphasized that Al Jama-ah is "diametrically opposed to Zionists" and stands in support of the Palestinian people. The party has pledged to tackle water and sanitation issues if elected, which includes upgrading sewer infrastructure, clearing blocked pipelines, and implementing strict maintenance schedules. Al Jama-ah also aims to install ward-based rapid repair teams to address water leaks, reduce water losses through smart meters, and improve neglected roads in townships and suburbs.

The party's president, Ganief Hendricks, highlighted that many communities still struggle with access to basic services, such as fetching water from rivers or forests, and using rudimentary sanitation systems. He underlined that the 1976 uprising aimed to achieve dignity, which remains unfulfilled for many residents.