Rise Mzansi has named Tshwane Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Economic Development and Spatial Planning Sarah Mabotsa as its mayoral candidate for the capital city, marking a significant step in the party’s electoral partnership with the GOOD Party ahead of next year’s local government elections.
Mabotsa, a GOOD councillor who serves in Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya’s multi-party coalition government, will lead Rise Mzansi’s campaign in Tshwane under an agreement that sees the two parties contest the 2026 local government elections together rather than against each other.
As part of the pact, Rise Mzansi is leading campaign structures in Gauteng municipalities while GOOD representatives have been incorporated into those structures.
Accepting her nomination on Saturday, Mabotsa said she was honoured to lead the campaign and pledged to continue building what she described as “a safe, equal and prosperous Tshwane.”
“Five and a half years ago, I heeded a call to be part of the solution to save our country and to help it rise,” she said.
“Now, I am asking for your support to continue in a leadership role in Tshwane through being selected as the Mayoral Candidate for Rise Mzansi.”
Mabotsa said her campaign would focus on six priorities: creating jobs and growing the economy, improving public safety, advancing housing and spatial justice, maintaining funded municipal budgets, improving service delivery and ensuring affordable municipal services with greater water and energy security.
She pointed to her record in the Tshwane coalition government, saying the metro had made significant progress in stabilising its finances and attracting private investment since she became MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning 20 months ago.
According to Mabotsa, confirmed private-sector investment projects increased from R1.7 billion when she took office to R15.4 billion, which she said had contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs.
“When I was appointed as MMC 20 months ago, the value of confirmed new private-sector investment projects in Tshwane was just R1.7 billion. Today, we have achieved a more than 800% increase to R15.4 billion,” she said.
She also highlighted the city’s Economic Revitalisation Strategy, which aims to grow Tshwane’s economy, attract between R17 billion and R26 billion in investment and create 80,000 jobs by 2029 through sectors including automotive manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, construction, digital industries and township enterprises.
Mabotsa said the city had expanded support for informal traders by introducing online business registration, increasing compliance training and strengthening business support centres in townships. She also cited the launch of the Ithuba Youth Economic Development Programme, which aims to improve young people’s access to skills development, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
On public safety, Mabotsa credited the coalition government with investing in safer public spaces through improved street lighting, cleaner neighbourhoods and the recruitment of 200 new Tshwane Metro Police Department officers.
She said SAPS crime statistics showed Tshwane had recorded declines in most major crime categories, including murders, although she acknowledged more work was needed to tackle the root causes of violent crime.
“The police often arrive after crimes are committed; to truly reduce crime, we must address its root causes: drugs, poverty, unemployment, corruption and inequality,” she said.
Housing and spatial justice also featured prominently in her campaign message, with Mabotsa saying the city had prioritised releasing municipal land and inner-city properties for affordable housing while working to bring residents closer to economic opportunities.
She further defended the coalition government’s financial management, saying Tshwane had moved from adopting unfunded budgets in previous years to passing two consecutive funded budgets, allowing the metro to improve its financial position, pay contractors on time and reduce debt owed to Eskom.
Mabotsa used the launch to criticise previous administrations and the Democratic Alliance over several policy decisions, including opposition to measures aimed at easing the registration of early childhood development centres in lower-income communities.
She argued that stronger governance, professionalisation of the municipal administration, greater accountability and the continued digitisation of municipal services would be essential to improving service delivery.
Concluding her address, Mabotsa appealed to Tshwane residents to back Rise Mzansi and its partners in next year’s municipal elections.
“The private sector has recognised our progress, driving an 800% increase in direct investment in just 20 months. That means thousands of real jobs, real economic growth and a better quality of life,” she said.
“If we stay focused on our six core priorities then we will build the city our residents deserve.”