What have the councils done on crime?
Things a metro council did, did not do or cancelled. Tap one to see the check.
What have parties claimed on crime?
Things a party said, or said about another party. We checked each one. Tap one to see the check.
What does each party promise on crime?
Tap a line for the full promise and its source. The order changes on each visit.
ActionSAGet council law officers working more closely with community policing forums.
ActionSA promises that (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) law officers will work more with community policing forums. At these forums, the police and the people of an area meet.
ACDPIncrease police visibility, roadblocks, stop-and-search and random drug-and-alcohol tests on drivers.
The ACDP promises to make police easier to see. It promises more roadblocks and stop-and-search checks. It also promises random drug and alcohol tests on drivers.
ANCProtect council and building projects from extortion, and stop vandalism and theft.
The ANC promises to protect (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) and building projects from extortion. This means forcing people to pay through threats. It also promises to prevent vandalism and theft of pipes, roads and power lines.
AMMAct against drugs, extortion, building hijacking and cable theft within council powers.
The AMM promises to act against drugs, extortion, building hijacking and cable theft. It would do this within the powers a (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) has by law. Extortion means forcing people to pay with threats.
Al Jama-ahWork with police, policing forums, neighbourhood watches, schools and local groups.
Al Jama-ah promises to work with the police and community policing forums. It also promises to work with neighbourhood watches and schools. And it would work with local groups.
BOSAExpand CCTV and monitoring in hotspots, transport hubs, business and industrial areas.
BOSA promises more CCTV cameras and monitoring. This would be in crime hotspots and at transport hubs. It would also be in the parts of town for business and industry.
DAPush for capable councils to get policing powers and a budget.
The DA promises to push for police powers, and enough money to use them, to go to (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) that can do the job. It says municipal police would investigate crimes that council officers start or that involve council property, and work with the National Prosecuting Authority. It says this would ease pressure on the SAPS, the South African Police Service.
EFFAim crime prevention plans at known crime hotspots.
The EFF promises crime prevention plans that join different efforts together and are based on the areas where crime is known to happen. A crime hotspot is an area where a lot of crime happens.
FF+Provide working streetlights and security cameras where possible.
The FF+ promises working streetlights and security cameras where possible. It says a safe area also has no vacant or abandoned (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) property. It says cameras should guard council property from vandalism, which is damage done on purpose.
GOODTarget crime hotspots near schools, clinics and parks.
GOOD promises to target crime hotspots near schools, clinics and parks. Its Cape Town plan says it would add lighting, traffic calming (measures that slow cars down) and supervised crossings. A hotspot is a place where a lot of crime happens.
PAPay neighbourhood watch members a salary from the council budget.
The PA promises to use the municipal budget to pay neighbourhood watch members a salary. A neighbourhood watch is a group of residents who watch their area to help stop crime. The PA leader, Gayton McKenzie, said some communities rely on these groups because the police cannot fight crime there.
SACPPush for strong action against theft of cables, transformers and water pumps.
The SACP promises to push for strong action against theft of cables, transformers and water pumps. This includes protecting key sites and controlling the trade in scrap metal.
UDMImprove street lighting in high-risk areas and add CCTV where practical.
The UDM promises better street lighting in high-risk areas, and more CCTV cameras where practical. It says broken streetlights and unsafe public spaces help crime and disorder grow. CCTV means cameras that record an area.
No party with a promise on crime matches.
We found no 2026 promise on crime from these parties yet. A party with no promise here may have none, or may not have published its plans. It is not marked down: ATM, IFP, NCC, PAC, Rise Mzansi, MK, UAT.
Not sure which topic matters most? Pick yours and see which parties promised it, with a link to where it said so.
Take the quizWhat have the councils done on metro police?
Things a metro council did, did not do or cancelled. Tap one to see the check.
What does each party promise on metro police?
Tap a line for the full promise and its source. The order changes on each visit.
ActionSAGrow council law enforcement step by step, based on population and need.
ActionSA promises to grow (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) law enforcement step by step. This would be based on how many people live there and local needs.
ACDPRaise the running budgets of the SAPS and metro police.
The ACDP promises more money for the daily running costs of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Metropolitan Police Departments. (Metro A big city with one council for the whole city, such as Johannesburg or Cape Town. There are 8. Voters there get 2 ballot papers.) police are the police services run by the (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) of big cities. In the same section it also lists more police that people can see, and more roadblocks and stop-and-search operations.
ANCStrengthen municipal police services where they exist.
The ANC promises to make municipal police stronger in places that already have them. It says they would work to prevent crime, enforce the law and keep public order, within the powers they have. It also says it would improve how by-laws, which are (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) rules, and traffic laws are enforced.
AMMBring professional council policing, working street lights, hotspot CCTV and by-law enforcement.
The AMM promises professional (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) policing. It also promises street lights that work. It promises CCTV cameras in crime hotspots. And it promises that by-laws will be enforced.
Al Jama-ahStrengthen council law enforcement within its legal powers.
Al Jama-ah promises to make (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) law enforcement stronger, but only in ways the law allows. It says it would work with the South African Police Service (SAPS), Community Policing Forums, neighbourhood watches, schools and community groups. A legal mandate is the set of powers the law gives a body.
BOSAGive every Metro Police officer a body camera.
BOSA promises body cameras for Metro Police. Each officer would wear one.
DASet up municipal police services in all major and secondary cities.
The DA promises municipal police services. These would be in all major cities. They would also be in secondary cities, the next size down.
EFFGive council law enforcement more staff, training and resources.
The EFF promises to make municipal law enforcement stronger with better staffing, training and resources. Municipal law enforcement officers are the officers that the (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) itself employs.
FF+Police and enforce council by-laws consistently.
The FF+ promises to police and enforce by-laws (the (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) own rules) consistently.
Rise MzansiStaff by-law enforcement and have metro police who answer calls.
Rise Mzansi's 2026 election website calls for a (Metro A big city with one council for the whole city, such as Johannesburg or Cape Town. There are 8. Voters there get 2 ballot papers.) police service that answers when you call. It also calls for staffed by-law enforcement.
SACPPush for visible, accountable, corruption-free policing that works with communities.
The SACP promises to push for policing that people can see and hold to account. It wants it to be free of corruption. It wants SAPS, (Metro A big city with one council for the whole city, such as Johannesburg or Cape Town. There are 8. Voters there get 2 ballot papers.) police and communities to work as one, in an honest way.
UDMBuild up council policing where this applies.
The UDM promises to improve what (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) police can do, in the places where this applies. It says the South African Police Service has the main policing job, but UDM-led councils would use every lawful power to make communities safer. It also lists fair, consistent enforcement of by-laws, which are rules made by a council.
No party with a promise on metro police matches.
We found no 2026 promise on metro police from these parties yet. A party with no promise here may have none, or may not have published its plans. It is not marked down: ATM, GOOD, IFP, NCC, PAC, PA, MK, UAT.
Not sure which topic matters most? Pick yours and see which parties promised it, with a link to where it said so.
Take the quizWhat have the councils done on local jobs?
Things a metro council did, did not do or cancelled. Tap one to see the check.
What have parties claimed on local jobs?
Things a party said, or said about another party. We checked each one. Tap one to see the check.
What does each party promise on local jobs?
Tap a line for the full promise and its source. The order changes on each visit.
ActionSAMake short-term council jobs give useful experience and chances to move up.
ActionSA promises that short-term (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) job schemes will give useful work experience. They would also give chances to move up.
ACDPEncourage businesses to offer paid internships.
The ACDP promises to encourage businesses to start internships that pay the intern. An internship is a short job where a person learns by doing the work. In the same list, it also promises to encourage skills training and mentoring for people starting businesses, with special emphasis on women and youth.
ANCExpand the EPWP and CWP, programmes that give people short-term work.
The ANC promises to expand the public works programmes, the EPWP and CWP. These programmes give people short-term work. The ANC says this will contribute to one million work, training and business opportunities.
AMMTurn short-term public works into recognised training and paths to steady jobs.
The AMM promises to turn short-term public work programmes into recognised training. The aim is to lead people to steady jobs.
Al Jama-ahHire public works (EPWP) staff permanently into upkeep, waste and security teams.
Al Jama-ah promises permanent jobs for workers in the Expanded Public Works Programme. The (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) would hire them itself, in (Ward A small area inside a municipality. Each one elects one councillor.) teams. They would do upkeep, waste and security work.
BOSASet up local jobs databases linking unemployed residents to local firms.
BOSA promises local jobs databases. These would link residents who have no work to jobs at local firms.
DAMake hiring for public works jobs fair, open and free of politics.
The DA promises that hiring for EPWP (public works) jobs will be fair and open. It says there would be no political interference.
EFFEmploy council workers directly, without contractors, within 24 months.
The EFF promises that (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) would hire their own workers within 24 months. They would stop using contractors, which are outside firms paid to do council work.
GOODBring outsourced City cleaning, security and upkeep back to City staff.
GOOD promises that City staff will again do work that outside firms do now. This includes cleaning, security and upkeep.
IFPMake councils put local jobs first.
The IFP promises that local governments will put local jobs first. It says they must become economic hubs, which are places where a lot of business and trade happens.
SACPAdopt a needs-based Decent Work Plan in every council it leads.
The SACP promises that every (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) it leads will adopt a Decent Work Plan. The plan would be based on what communities actually need.
UDMStart 'green battalions' to fight rural soil erosion and create local jobs.
The UDM promises 'green battalions' to fight soil erosion in rural areas and create local jobs. It also promises skills training linked to (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) projects.
No party with a promise on local jobs matches.
We found no 2026 promise on local jobs from these parties yet. A party with no promise here may have none, or may not have published its plans. It is not marked down: ATM, FF+, NCC, PAC, PA, Rise Mzansi, MK, UAT.
Not sure which topic matters most? Pick yours and see which parties promised it, with a link to where it said so.
Take the quizWhat have the councils done on business and growth?
Things a metro council did, did not do or cancelled. Tap one to see the check.
We have not checked a council record on business and growth yet.
What does each party promise on business and growth?
Tap a line for the full promise and its source. The order changes on each visit.
ActionSASimplify council rules and processes that delay investment.
ActionSA promises to make (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) rules and processes simpler. It would do this where they hold up investment.
ACDPAdd help for small businesses to the main focus of councils.
The ACDP promises to widen the main focus of (Municipality The local government for your area. It looks after local services, such as water, rubbish removal and local roads. There are 257.). It would add a new aim. That is to help small firms do well.
ANCMake councils investor-ready, with published approval times for plans, rezoning and licences.
The ANC promises to make (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) ready for investors. This includes published approval times for building plans, rezoning and licences. Rezoning means changing what a piece of land may be used for.
AMMBuy more from local producers where the law allows.
The AMM promises that (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) would move more of their buying to local producers, as far as the law allows. Procurement means a council buying goods and services. The AMM says council money spent on food, uniforms, furniture, maintenance, building materials and services must circulate in the local economy.
Al Jama-ahSplit council tenders so township contractors, youth businesses and co-ops can compete.
Al Jama-ah promises to split (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) tenders into smaller parts. This is so township contractors, youth businesses and co-operatives can compete fairly.
BOSACreate a Red-Tape Reduction Unit to speed up small-business permits and licences.
BOSA promises a Red-Tape Reduction Unit in each (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.). It would speed up permits and licences for small businesses.
DAGive investors one-stop help, dedicated teams and faster support in its councils.
The DA promises that DA-led (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) would use 'investment-ready' toolkits, which are sets of measures to attract and keep investors. The toolkit would include one-stop-shop services, dedicated teams to help investors, and fast-tracked support. The DA says it would follow a Western Cape Government programme, Western Cape Municipal Investment Readiness Support.
EFFGive local small firms and co-operatives at least 80% of council buying.
The EFF promises that at least 80% of (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) buying will go to local firms. These are small firms, co-operatives and township firms.
FF+Remove needless red tape on rezoning applications and trading permits.
The FF+ promises to remove needless red tape on rezoning applications and trading permits. Red tape means rules and paperwork that slow things down.
GOODInvest in public workspace and support street traders and small survival businesses.
GOOD promises to invest in public workspace. It also promises support for street traders and for small businesses that people run just to survive.
IFPKeep funding and supporting small businesses.
The IFP promises that (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) it runs will keep funding and supporting small businesses. Small-business funding and support means money and other help for small firms.
PACBring jobs, investment and business closer to where people live.
The PAC promises to use land where people live to bring jobs closer to them. It would also bring investment and business closer.
PAUse by-laws on people in the country illegally who run businesses.
The PA promises by-laws, which are (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) rules, for areas it governs. They would deal with people in the country illegally who run businesses.
SACPSet up Cooperatives Development Centres in every council it leads.
The SACP promises that each (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) it leads will set up centres to support co-operatives. A co-operative is a business owned and run by its members. The centres would cut red tape. They would link co-operatives to infrastructure, money, skills and markets.
UDMSupport small firms, cooperatives and informal traders, and favour South African-owned firms.
The UDM promises to support small firms and cooperatives. It also promises to support informal traders. And it promises that local buying will favour South African-owned firms.
No party with a promise on business and growth matches.
We found no 2026 promise on business and growth from these parties yet. A party with no promise here may have none, or may not have published its plans. It is not marked down: ATM, NCC, Rise Mzansi, MK, UAT.
Not sure which topic matters most? Pick yours and see which parties promised it, with a link to where it said so.
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