{
  "id": 7100099,
  "title": "ActionSA targets Free State take over in Local Government Elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/actionsa-targets-free-state-take-over-in-local-government-elections",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T11:49:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/actionsa-targets-free-state-take-over-in-local-government-elections/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ActionSA, led by Deputy President Dr Mbahare Kekana, is making a push to take control of Free State municipalities in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections, scheduled for November 4th. The party plans to conduct a door-to-door campaign in Welkom, where Kekana and the provincial leadership are actively engaging with voters. Kekana has set clear goals for ActionSA, stating that the party aims to restore the province's glory by addressing issues such as high youth unemployment, poor service delivery, and inadequate governance. He emphasized that voters need to choose ActionSA over the ANC due to the lack of service delivery and the presence of illegal dumping, potholes, and idle young people in the municipalities. Kekana's primary focus is to create employment, suggesting that the party intends to reopen closed or non-functional factories in the Free State to stimulate economic growth. He also mentioned the need for ActionSA to field mayoral candidates capable of delivering services to the people, drawing parallels with Tshwane's progress under Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya. Kekana reiterated that ActionSA is not there to be heroes but as a partner committed to providing services to municipalities in the Free State.",
  "summary": "Kekana has vowed that ActionSA will restore and rebuild the glory of the Free State and its people.",
  "key_points": [
    "ActionSA aims to take control of Free State municipalities in the 2026 Local Government Elections.",
    "Deputy President Dr Mbahare Kekana leads the party's campaign in Welkom.",
    "Kekana plans to reopen closed factories to stimulate economic growth in the province."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/7100099.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "CPI(M) Keralam State committee to directly address local organisational issues",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/cpi-m-keralam-state-committee-to-directly-address-local",
        "published": "2026-09-13T11:41:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "ActionSA to prioritise service delivery, job creation in Free State",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/actionsa-to-prioritise-service-delivery-job-creation-in-free-state",
        "published": "2026-09-13T14:54:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}