Caption: Premier Mandla Ndlovu casting his ballot during the 2026 Local Government Elections
By Kopano Dibakwane
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu cast his ballot at the Thulamahashe Civic Centre in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality on [Insert Date], joining more than two million registered voters across the province—and millions nationwide—in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The elections serve as a vital democratic exercise to elect a new cohort of ward and proportional representation (PR) councillors, executive mayors, and council speakers responsible for directing municipal administration and driving service delivery over the next five-year term.
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Premier Ndlovu urged incoming municipal leaders to maintain an unwavering focus on addressing basic service delivery challenges, placing water security at the top of the provincial agenda.
Ndlovu highlighted several major government interventions aimed at strengthening the region’s water supply, including plans to construct a new dam in the City of Mbombela and the ongoing execution of the Loskop Bulk Water Supply Project in the Nkangala District.
According to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, the Loskop initiative will bolster bulk water supply infrastructure and secure more reliable water provision for residents in the Thembisile Hani and Dr JS Moroka Local Municipalities.
The Premier emphasized that casting a ballot marks the beginning, rather than the end, of civic participation in governance. He called on residents to actively collaborate with their elected local representatives to demand accountability and drive continuous service delivery improvements.
