{
  "id": 13766564,
  "title": "Vote for the psychopath — Joburg needs it",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/vote-for-the-psychopath-joburg-needs-it",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T17:58:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-10-11-vote-for-the-psychopath-joburg-needs-it/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The city of Johannesburg urgently requires a mayor with psychopathic tendencies, according to a recent article. The city is struggling financially, with water and electricity services failing to meet demands. Many entities involved in delivering these services are unable to fulfill their obligations, leading to increased illegal connections and theft. The current billing system is unreliable, and there are shortages of water and repeated power outages in different areas.\n\nTo tackle these challenges, the new mayor will need to remove incompetent and corrupt individuals from City structures and address the unaffordable long-term pay agreement put in place by the current administration. This daunting task necessitates cold-blooded ruthlessness, steely courage, manic energy, and suicidal determination.\n\nPsychopathy is characterized by a lack of empathy, an absent or shallow conscience, and manipulative or antisocial behavior. The article argues that a psychopathic mayor would have the necessary qualities to make the required changes. There are 82 political entities vying for the position, with an average of 55 candidates per ward. Of these, around 74 could potentially be suitable for the job, considering the prevalence of psychopathy in society.\n\nThe article highlights the diverse range of candidates, including narcissists, gangsters, religious extremists, jokers, and one candidate running for 44 wards. Despite the plethora of choices, the author is confident about their vote for the one psychopathic candidate who stands out among them all.",
  "summary": "You have to be more than a little crazy to want to be the mayor of our biggest city.",
  "key_points": [
    "Johannesburg city faces financial crisis with service failures",
    "Psychopathic mayor needed to tackle challenges effectively",
    "82 candidates vie for mayor position, 74 potentially suitable"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}