{
  "id": 18266803,
  "title": "The battle for Emfuleni: ANC's Mako and DA's Chabalala face off in local elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/the-battle-for-emfuleni-ancs-mako-and-das-chabalala-face-off-in-local",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/the-star/news/2026-11-05-the-battle-for-emfuleni-ancs-mako-and-das-chabalala-face-off-in-local-elections/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Control of the troubled Emfuleni Local Municipality is the focus of the local government elections. Incumbent ANC mayor Hassan Mako and DA mayoral candidate Kingsol Chabalala both voted on Wednesday, expressing confidence in the outcome. Mako, who assumed office in June, highlighted the work his administration has done addressing residents' needs, including road grading, drain cleaning, streetlight repairs, and grass cutting. Chabalala, criticizing the ANC's management, pledged to overhaul finances, assess infrastructure projects, and address staff shortages in his first 100 days. He also raised concerns about residents struggling to obtain proof of residence documents, suggesting councillors need to assist more effectively. Chabalala ruled out coalition arrangements if the DA fails to secure an outright majority, insisting they are focused on winning. He challenged Mako to \"start clearing out his office.\"",
  "summary": "ANC mayor Hassan Mako and DA mayoral candidate Kingsol Chabalala expressed confidence in their chances of taking control of Emfuleni as they cast their votes in the local government elections.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: ANC losing wall-to-wall support as ActionSA, DA show growth",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/local-elections-2026-anc-losing-wall-to-wall-support-as-actionsa-da",
        "published": "2026-11-05T10:42:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}