BLOEMFONTEIN, FREE STATE — The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has officially unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 manifesto, setting out a bold and aggressive agenda for the upcoming local government elections. During the launch of the Patriotic Alliance 2026 manifesto in the Free State, party Deputy President Kenny Kunene detailed the organization’s core priorities. The platform heavily emphasizes a controversial three-month rates and taxes payment holiday, stringent immigration enforcement, and a massive overhaul of crumbling municipal infrastructure.
Core Pillars of the Patriotic Alliance 2026 Manifesto
The newly released policy document is built on five foundational pillars aimed at restoring basic municipal services and ensuring financial accountability. The party promises to prioritize the repair of potholes, the clearing of refuse backlogs, and the stabilization of water provision.
Additionally, the manifesto calls for a strict audit of local tender processes to curb municipal corruption and inflated costs. On the economic front, the party is prioritizing local job creation and youth employment by reserving municipal extended public works programs for local residents. A highly publicized pillar of the manifesto also includes reserving township economies, spaza shops, and local trade stores strictly for South African citizens.
The Three-Month Rates Holiday and Financial Strategy
One of the most notable promises in the Patriotic Alliance 2026 manifesto is a three-month rates and taxes payment holiday for qualifying residential households, alongside debt relief for properties valued under R1 million.
When questioned on how this would be funded in financially distressed municipalities like Johannesburg, Kunene explained that the holiday would be subsidized by fixing municipal leakages and increasing revenue collection. He stated that the party intends to target commercial businesses and hijacked buildings where owners collect rent but fail to pay for municipal services. By correcting municipal data books and aggressively pursuing long-standing debtors, Kunene argued, municipalities could afford the relief without crippling their budgets.
Immigration Enforcement and Crime Fighting
Immigration and crime remain central to the party’s campaign strategy. The manifesto advocates for mass deportations of undocumented foreign nationals and strict border control. Kunene noted that he has already begun conducting oversight operations in Johannesburg’s Region E, working alongside the Department of Home Affairs to target hijacked buildings and deport illegal immigrants. He emphasized that legal residents with proper documentation would be unaffected, but those without papers would face immediate deportation.
To combat gangsterism and local crime, the party proposes increasing metropolitan police visibility, reinstating localized police reserveists, and cracking down on drug dens. Kunene also highlighted the importance of functional streetlights to mitigate contact crime, particularly against women. He pointed to a pilot project in Slovo Park, where 20-meter smart poles equipped with lights, free Wi-Fi, and cameras linked to the metropolitan police operations center have already been installed.
Kunene’s Track Record and Mayoral Ambitions in Johannesburg
Positioning himself as a capable candidate for Johannesburg Mayor, Kunene defended his tenure as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport. He highlighted several measurable achievements, including the recommissioning of a R60 million asphalt plant that had sat idle. According to Kunene, this move saved the city 40% on asphalt procurement costs.
He also detailed the purchase of 34 new MetroBus vehicles equipped with free Wi-Fi and security cameras linked to an operations center, which he credited with reducing criminality on public transport. Furthermore, he noted the upgrade of the city’s asphalt lab, the acquisition of larger 15-ton trucks to speed up road repairs, and the restoration of 90% to 93% of the city’s traffic signals.
Addressing the recent grounding of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) fleet due to a lack of fuel, Kunene blamed the city’s treasury and financial model. He argued that the JRA was not allocated its requested budget, promising that if elected mayor, he would ring-fence the R4 billion generated from the F-levy and developer contributions to ensure essential infrastructure entities are fully funded.
Coalition Dynamics and Friction with Mayor Dada Morero
The interview also touched on the complexities of coalition governance in Johannesburg. Kunene expressed frustration with ANC Mayor Dada Morero, accusing him of interfering in his portfolio and failing to implement resolutions passed by the Political Management Committee (PMC).
Kunene clarified that the Patriotic Alliance is in a coalition with the African National Congress, not with Morero personally. He stated that while other coalition partners, including the ANC, often vote in favor of PA initiatives in the council, Morero’s lack of cooperation remains a hurdle. Kunene confirmed he has written to the ANC nationally regarding the issue but acknowledged that the ANC retains the prerogative to choose its mayoral candidates.
Looking ahead to potential post-election coalitions, Kunene stated the party would work with any organization that respects their mandate. He noted that while former DA leader Helen Zille failed to respect the PA’s voice in 2021, the DA’s new leadership appears more sensible, leaving the door open for future cooperation.
Party Growth, Setbacks, and Internal Accountability
Established in 2013, the Patriotic Alliance has seen exponential growth, expanding from five municipal council seats in 2016 to 75 in 2021. In Johannesburg alone, their vote count surged from 3,835 to 54,000 during that period. While initially rooted in the Colored communities of the Western Cape, the party has successfully expanded its voter base into Black communities, securing seats in areas like Giyani in Limpopo and Newcastle.
However, Kunene acknowledged recent setbacks, including the loss of the mayoral position in certain municipalities and a drastic drop in support in specific wards during by-elections. He attributed these losses to “lazy” councillors who were not in touch with the ground. To prevent a recurrence, he announced the implementation of a strict, continuous performance monitoring system for all regional leaders and councillors.
Kunene also defended PA President and Minister Gayton McKenzie’s tenure as mayor of the Central Karoo, citing successful infrastructure and water projects. He dismissed a Section 106 investigation regarding R3 million raised from the private sector for municipal projects as political tactics by the DA. Kunene maintained that the funds were properly spent and that the investigation was an attempt to tarnish the party’s growing image.
Finally, addressing rumors surrounding the TicketPro consortium and the appointment of Tumi Makosi to the JRA and MetroBus boards, Kunene denied any personal involvement. He stated that Makosi went through a standard governance process involving CV submissions and interviews, and that final board appointments were made by city governance structures, not by him personally.