ActionSA focuses on drug abuse in Mpumalanga election campaign
With just 25 days to go before the 2026 local government elections, ActionSA in Mpumalanga has focused its campaign on addressing drug abuse in Emalahleni.
The party’s eNkangala District mayoral candidate, Mary Phadi, Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo and Johannesburg MMC candidate Zandile Dabula are leading a peaceful walk to raise awareness about drug abuse.
IN PICTURES | ActionSA has embarked on a peaceful walk against drug abuse in Emalahleni as part of its election campaign for the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The party says drugs are destroying communities and calls for more police on the streets and more rehabilitation centres for addicts. For more, visit https://t.co/LM0zXWIybTCredit: Nhlamulo Mabasa
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 10, 2026
Khumalo says there is a need to reclaim and expropriate hijacked buildings in order to reduce high crime rates.
“You see the things that are happening in Jericho; those hijacked buildings are resulting in high crime numbers. They contribute a lot to issues that have to do with prostitution. Therefore, we need law enforcement to do their job; we need law enforcement that works for the district and municipality, not only focusing on by-laws, but also preventing crime; that’s what government needs to do. We know that when ActionSA takes administration, those are the things that will be prioritised. The high rate of unemployment is also a major concern. Our people don’t work; they don’t have job opportunities, and there is no political will to create opportunities for people to find employment. People from Emalahleni don’t work here either; the contractors who supply the mine also need attention.”
Meanwhile, Phadi says they hope the walk will have a meaningful impact.
“We are saying, let us fix it. We are sending a message to say today we are having a walk, and tomorrow we will not be negotiating with you because our children are drowning in drugs; our children cannot be able to recover for themselves. So, now we are sending a message to those who are illegally selling those drugs. To those who are killing our children, we say now it is time, and you need to move away because when we come as a municipality, you are not going to stand for us.”
IN PICTURES | ActionSA has embarked on a peaceful walk against drug abuse in Emalahleni as part of its election campaign for the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The party says drugs are destroying communities and calls for more police on the streets and more rehabilitation centres for addicts. For more, visit https://t.co/LM0zXWIybTCredit: Nhlamulo Mabasa
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 10, 2026
