{
  "id": 2863991,
  "title": "‘Clock it’ — ANC reheats old election promises in 2026 manifesto",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/clock-it-anc-reheats-old-election-promises-in-2026-manifesto",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T20:50:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-23-clock-it-anc-reheats-old-election-promises-in-2026-manifesto/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The African National Congress (ANC) has reintroduced its 2026 local government elections manifesto, urgently addressing the declining support and unpopular policies under the current administration. In a symbolic event in Riverside, Johannesburg, the ruling party unveiled its promises to turn around failing municipalities by implementing tight timelines and targeted interventions on water and electricity.\n\nThe party's manifesto reflects the significant shift in voter support, dropping from a 64.82% in 2006 to just 45.59% in 2021. The dwindling support can be attributed to numerous scandals, increasing unemployment, indebted municipalities, and failures to provide basic services, such as water and electricity.\n\nThe ANC's manifesto revives several promises from the 2021 election, including improving municipal functionality, developing and maintaining infrastructure, and combating corruption and nepotism. The party also pledges to deliver free basic services and accountable leadership within strict timelines, ranging from 100 days to five years.\n\nIn the key campaign promises, the ANC aims to provide affordable and reliable services by making electricity more affordable and prioritizing investment in water infrastructure, including dams, pipelines, and water treatment centers. The party pledges to reduce reliance on consultants and outsourcing by building internal capacity within municipalities to maintain infrastructure. Moreover, they aim to upgrade informal settlements, ensure access to title deeds, and introduce a fairer tariff system with protections for low-income households.\n\nThe party also plans to create economic hubs and activities where people live, invest in townships and rural economies, and promote safer streets, cleaner neighbourhoods, and healthier communities. The ANC promises to address immigration law violations, enforce stricter labour inspector hiring, and work on improving municipal finances by reducing wasteful expenditure and ensuring proper billing and collection processes.",
  "summary": "Struggling under declining voter support, the ANC has pledged tight timelines and targeted interventions on water and electricity to turn around failing municipalities ahead of the local elections.",
  "key_points": [
    "ANC reintroduces 2026 local government manifesto amid declining support",
    "Manifesto promises to improve municipal functionality and infrastructure",
    "Key pledges include affordable electricity, water infrastructure, and accountable leadership"
  ],
  "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."
}