Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, has labelled Mangaung Metro as the worst managed municipality in South Africa, vowing sweeping administrative reforms should his party secure power in the upcoming local government elections.

Addressing supporters at the party’s 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto event in Bloemfontein on Saturday, Malema committed to restoring operational integrity and tackling systemic corruption across the metro.

A primary focus of the proposed governance shift involves dismantling cadre deployment by introducing open recruitment systems that prioritise certified qualifications over political affiliation.

Malema also condemned municipal job exploitation, pledging an immediate end to alleged demands for sexual favours from female applicants seeking local employment.

He stressed that holding party membership would offer no preferential treatment during recruitment drives, emphasizing equal opportunities for all local youth.

“An EFF membership will not guarantee a job, a qualification will. We will not hire by favour, but we will include all the youth of Mangaung,” he said.

Turning to human settlements, the Red Beret’s commander-in-chief advocated for public housing lists to prevent queue-jumping and protect elderly applicants who have waited decades for shelter.

He condemned modern low-cost housing models, insisting that residents deserve spacious homes with private yards rather than cramped structures.

Malema highlighted critical service delivery failures, demanding that communal standpipes be replaced with individual household taps alongside reliable electricity grids and functioning sanitation infrastructure.

“Houses must have a yard and clean running water, with electricity that is functional and is not triggered by rainy weather,” he added.

Addressing widespread unemployment, he criticised the government's Social Relief of Distress grant as inadequate and called for targeted financial aid for struggling tertiary graduates.

He concluded by urging local youth to pursue higher education, assuring them that an EFF administration would guarantee merit-based employment opportunities.