African Renaissance Unity manifesto summary
African Renaissance Unity · 2026 local government elections
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AI-written summary of the party’s own manifesto. Each point links to its page.
African Renaissance Unity summary on every topic
Housing and title deeds
- Renovate hijacked buildings into decent low-cost housing units for struggling families and vulnerable residents. p.7
- Prioritise construction of quality homes for communities in temporary shelters and informal settlements. p.7
- Encourage local property developers to participate in housing and mixed-use developments for urban growth. p.10
- Reclaim unlawfully occupied buildings and convert them into affordable residential accommodation or public facilities. p.11
- Says it has already prioritised housing as a basic human right and the need for sustainable human settlements. p.7
Water and sanitation
- Demand reliable access to clean water, which must be free for every household and community. Revamp aging water infrastructure and replace old asbestos pipes. Employ community workers to monitor and repair leaks. p.4
- Expand municipal reservoirs and water storage capacity to ensure a clean, reliable, and uninterrupted water supply. p.4
- Explore desalination projects to convert seawater into safe drinking water as part of a long-term water security strategy. p.4
- Invest in municipal infrastructure like water tanks and mobile supply systems to support communities during shortages and service disruptions. p.4
- Provide an accurate, transparent, and reliable billing system for all residents, ensuring correct meter readings and prompt resolution of billing queries. p.4
Electricity and energy
- Employ 4 workers and provide 1 vehicle per ward for quick response and maintenance of electricity-related infrastructure. p.5
- Focus on improving energy reliability and service delivery within communities. p.5
- Embark on renewable energy projects, including solar energy and gas-powered solutions. p.5
- Promote sustainable development and reduce electricity shortages. p.5
- Create long-term economic opportunities through energy initiatives. p.5
Roads and public transport
- Integrate bus services with other public transport systems and develop fast rail train routes connecting key areas. p.6
- Advocate for properly planned, maintained, and accessible roads to support economic development and safe transportation. p.6
- Assume full responsibility for the operation and management of the bus service to improve accountability and service delivery. p.6
- Expand transport routes to underserved townships, rural areas, and informal settlements. p.6
- Employ six ward-based workers to maintain potholes and road infrastructure within their wards. p.6
Waste and refuse collection
Not addressed in this manifesto.
Safety and policing
- Introduce modern technology for crime prevention, including drone surveillance, smart CCTV, and integrated command centres for rapid response. p.5
- Train and employ enough Metro Police and security personnel to safeguard communities, businesses, and public facilities day and night. p.5
- Restore law and order by addressing homelessness through social intervention programmes and building a professional municipal security force. p.5
- Work with law enforcement to combat illegal immigration, organised crime, and human trafficking, while establishing community street committees for safety. p.11
- Deploy additional police officers and advanced surveillance technology to enhance safety at beaches and protect tourists and public spaces. p.14
Jobs and the local economy
- Employ six ward-based workers for pothole and road maintenance, and build more access roads to connect communities and businesses. p.6
- Restart township industrialisation to create jobs, support local manufacturing, and empower small businesses, focusing on youth employment and skills development. p.9
- Allocate retail spaces in malls to local entrepreneurs and support township tourism and cultural heritage initiatives to promote economic growth. p.9
- Build community bakeries in all sub-regions to create jobs, develop local skills, and ensure access to affordable food. p.9
- Support local businesses in maritime services and ensure local procurement in municipal projects to stimulate industrial development and create jobs. p.9
Rates, tariffs and municipal finance
- Implement modern technologies like smart metering to reduce billing errors and improve transparency for residents. p.4
- Provide an accurate, transparent, and reliable billing system, ensuring correct meter readings and prompt resolution of billing queries. p.4
- Achieve sound financial management through reliable billing, improved revenue collection, and effective collection of municipal tariffs and service fees. p.12
- Employ qualified officials to manage the municipality efficiently and promote transparency and good governance. p.12
- Ensure service providers are paid within 30 days of valid invoices to support economic growth and maintain relationships. p.12
Corruption, governance and accountability
No summary for this topic. Here are the manifesto’s own words instead.
“Corruption, financial mismanagement, wasteful expenditure, and the misuse of public funds have undermined public trust and diverted resources away from essential services and community development. e) Local government must return to its constitutional purpose: providing accountable, transparent, and efficient governance that delivers quality services to every community. Municipal resources must be managed responsibly, infrastructure must be maintained and expanded, corruption must be eradicated, and public representatives must be held accountable for their performance.”View in manifesto (PDF page 3)
“Now it time to free our people from corrupt Politician and restore dignity to the citizen and delivery services they deserve, let the people elect the public representative that resonate with the people, councillors and mayors that will serve the people with dignity and respect, Public representative that will respect traditional and churches leader and work with them in order to improve live of the people moral regeneration f) Now is the time to free our people from corrupt politicians and restore dignity to every citizen. South Africans deserve honest leadership, quality service delivery, and public representatives who place the needs of the people above personal interests.”View in manifesto (PDF page 3)
“Municipalities must work closely with the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service, and other law enforcement agencies to combat illegal immigration, organised crime, human trafficking and corruption. ARU will encourage the establishment of community street committees that work in partnership with the police, community policing forums and local authorities to improve neighbourhood safety, report criminal activities and strengthen community vigilance. Anyone who breaks the law, whether a South African citizen or a foreign national, must be investigated and dealt with fairly and firmly through the justice system. No person should be above the law.”View in manifesto (PDF page 11)
Informal settlements and land
No summary for this topic. Here are the manifesto’s own words instead.
“Expand transport routes to underserved townships, rural areas, and informal settlements.”View in manifesto (PDF page 6)
“ARU | AFRICAN RENAISSANCE UNITY MANIFESTO • aru-party.org.za PAGE 7 07 Housing and Human Settlements ARU will work to reclaim and restore law and order in our city and townships. Hijacked buildings will be renovated and converted into decent low-cost housing units for struggling families and vulnerable residents. The movement will prioritise the construction of quality homes for communities living in temporary shelters and informal settlement (shacks), ensuring that every family has access to safe, dignified, and decent housing.”View in manifesto (PDF page 7)
Support for indigent households
Not addressed in this manifesto.
By-law and municipal law enforcement
- Enforce environmental by-laws and sustainable development practices to protect the environment. p.10
- Prohibit illegal building and dumping activities, ensuring compliance with municipal planning regulations. p.10
- Reclaim unlawfully occupied buildings and convert them into affordable accommodation or public facilities. p.11
- Ensure all businesses comply with municipal by-laws, health regulations, and licensing requirements. p.11
- Promote environmental education, community clean-up campaigns, and recycling initiatives. p.10
Youth, sport, arts and libraries
Not addressed in this manifesto.