Independent candidates in Mangaung, Free State, are campaigning on a community-first platform ahead of the 2026 local government elections, urging residents to prioritise local service delivery over party loyalty. The Electoral Commission said candidate nominations and supporter lists closed at 17:00 on 28 August 2026, with submissions required through the Online Candidate Nomination System or delivered by hand at IEC offices.
Themba Zweni, an independent candidate in Mangaung, told SABC News that financial barriers make it difficult for independents to compete with established parties. He described a stark cost disparity between what independents and party-backed candidates pay to contest a ward in the Mangaung area.
“You pay R1,800 to contest a ward as an independent candidate but a party that gets funded pays R46.53 in the Mangaung area to contest a ward,” Zweni said in an interview reported by SABC on 29 August 2026.
The fee comparison Zweni cited has not been independently verified by the Electoral Commission or other sources. CapeFlats.co.za is seeking confirmation from the IEC on the specific deposit structure for independent versus party candidates in Mangaung.
Zweni also told SABC that he wants communities to develop their own manifestos rather than receiving top-down promises from candidates. “As an independent candidate, I am not going there with a manifesto — I want the community to actually develop its own manifesto,” he said.
The community-first push echoes a pattern in Mangaung politics dating to June 2023, when expelled ANC councillors announced they would contest by-elections as independents. Chabeli Frank Rampai, Mpho Isaac Mokoakoa, Lehlohonolo Joseph Moqolo and Makoa Cristophel Lelala stood in wards 7, 29, 49 and 50 on 19 July 2023 under the informal “Mangaung 7” banner, though the ANC retained all four wards.
“We took a stance that the four of us will contest the next by-elections to be held on 19 July 2023 as independent candidates under the banner of Mangaung 7,” Chabedi Rampai told The Citizen in June 2023.
SABC reported on 24 August 2026 that eight names had been advanced in Mangaung, including former Executive Mayor Thabo Manyoni, incumbent Mayor Gregory Nthatisi and Deputy Mayor Lulama Titi-Odili. Whether any of those individuals will contest as independents or under party banners has not been confirmed by the Electoral Commission.
This story is based on SABC News reporting, Electoral Commission statements and government election records, with no CapeFlats.co.za reporter present in Mangaung. The fee figures cited by Zweni remain unverified by independent sources, and CapeFlats.co.za will seek IEC confirmation by 2 September 2026.
Reporting by Thando Mthembu, CapeFlats.co.za