By Johnathan Paoli
Land Party Johannesburg mayoral candidate Nontsikelelo “Ntsiki” Mazwai has promised a sweeping municipal clean up, proposing financial investigations, changes to the city’s tender system and substantial relief for struggling households if elected.
Speaking during the Inside Metros podcast, Mazwai said her first priority would be to establish the municipality’s true financial position, identify missing funds and hold officials accountable for alleged wrongdoing.
“Joburg has got money actually. It’s just that it’s being mismanaged and we have to prioritise the budget properly and make it serve the people,” she said.
“My second priority, obviously, is to establish the baseline financially. Where are we at? What do we owe? What do we own? Where are we? Where are all the leaks?” Mazwai added.
She proposed bringing financial specialists together to review the city’s budget and redirect spending towards essential services.
Mazwai also pledged to pursue the recovery of allegedly misappropriated funds, warning that officials implicated in wrongdoing could face consequences.
“I’m going to come in with a transparent system where we follow where we’ve lost the money. We’re going to recover that money. And where need be, people are going to get arrested,” she said.
Her proposals include a two-year rates break for qualifying residents and businesses, alongside a flat R50 monthly payment for eligible low-income households for water and electricity.
She argued that the city should prioritise residents struggling to afford basic services while addressing revenue losses and financial mismanagement.
“We want to have for all households that apply, that are eligible, they must only pay R50 for water and electricity,” she said.
Mazwai also wants the city to abolish its tender system and bring more services in-house, arguing that outsourcing can make repairs more expensive and undermine accountability.
“We are for the abolishment of the tender system. It’s not working and the thing is that it’s making things more expensive,” she said.
She said Johannesburg should strengthen its own technical capacity, particularly in plumbing and water infrastructure, rather than repeatedly relying on private contractors.
On economic development, Mazwai proposed incentives for small businesses, including a two-year rate exemption for young entrepreneurs establishing businesses.
She said supporting small enterprises could stimulate job creation and expand the city’s revenue base.
Her housing proposals include redeveloping Alexandra “block by block”, constructing high-rise housing and improving the Jukskei River area.
Mazwai also proposed prioritising local employment, with a target of 90% local workers through incentives for businesses.
She said municipal reform would require difficult decisions but argued that improving residents’ living conditions should take precedence.
Mazwai acknowledged that the initial years of her proposed administration would be difficult, but maintained that Johannesburg could recover by curbing wasteful expenditure and redirecting resources towards residents.
Catch the full Inside Metros Podcast interview with Mazwai as she unpacks her plans to tackle municipal corruption, overhaul service delivery, ease the financial burden on residents and get Johannesburg working for its people.
