{
  "id": 14408501,
  "title": "UDM’s Yongama Zigebe promises service-delivery focus to end Joburg coalition instability",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/udms-yongama-zigebe-promises-service-delivery-focus-to-end-joburg",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/the-star/city-watch/2026-10-14-udms-yongama-zigebe-promises-service-delivery-focus-to-end-joburg-coalition-instability/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Johannesburg's mayoral race heats up with candidates vowing to tackle the city's service delivery issues, UDM hopeful Yongama Zigebe has outlined his own approach to ending the cycle of political instability. Zigebe, who joins a crowded field that includes Helen Zille of the DA, Herman Mashaba of ActionSA, Tlaleng Mofokeng of the EFF, and Kenny Kunene of the Patriotic Alliance, emphasizes the need for a new administration that holds municipal officials accountable for providing essential services like water, electricity, and functioning roads.\n\nUnder Zigebe's leadership, the UDM pledges to prioritize service continuity, professional municipal management, and a public agreement that obliges coalition partners to work together on a shared service delivery programme. To ensure accountability, Zigebe proposes that governing parties sign a published agreement detailing their commitments to essential services, financial recovery, and delivery throughout the council term. This agreement would outline how budgets will be supported, how disputes will be resolved, and what constitutes a breach of the agreement.\n\nZigebe identifies three urgent priorities: reliable water and sanitation, dependable electricity, and safe, clean streets. He aims to focus repairs on areas with recurring pipe failures, high water losses, and sewage overflows, while publishing information about reservoir levels, repair progress, and emergency water delivery routes. On the electricity front, Zigebe suggests identifying the worst-performing distribution networks, ensuring repair crews have proper materials and staffing, and addressing cable theft, overloaded equipment, and prolonged local outages.\n\nTo improve infrastructure, Zigebe emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to fix potholes, maintain traffic signals, keep street lighting functional, clear stormwater, and manage refuse collection across municipal departments and entities. For businesses, he proposes predictable services, accurate municipal bills, and clear deadlines for approvals to restore confidence.\n\nCoalition partners will be required to receive the same verified monthly information on finances and service delivery, and a public register of commitments along with quarterly progress reports will hold them accountable. If targets are missed, Zigebe insists that coalition partners must explain the reason, remedial action, and a new deadline. Zigebe acknowledges that he cannot promise to rebuild Johannesburg in 100 days, but commits to visible changes in how the city delivers and accounts for its services, ensuring consistent, present, and accountable governance.",
  "summary": "UDM mayoral hopeful Yongama Zigebe says a published coalition agreement, transparent service targets and professional municipal management are key to stabilising Johannesburg and improving water, electricity and road services.",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}