“Her selection is not merely a political appointment,” EFF says.
The Economic Freedom Fighters Matatiele Sub region has officially welcomed Commissar Babalwa Mathulelwa as the party’s candidate for Mayor of Matatiele Local Municipality in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections. The announcement was made by EFF President and Commander in chief Julius Malema, and welcomed by the sub region, the announcement comes as political parties begin positioning ahead of the 2026 Local Government elections. In a media statement released by the EFF Matatiele Sub region, the party described Mathulelwa as a distinguished and recently graduated leader in Advanced Governance and Public Leadership who embodies the progressive, educated, and community-centric leadership the municipality requires. The party said this strategic and visionary decision signals a new dawn for Matatiele.
Speaking with this publication, the EFF’s Mayoral candidate, Babalwa Mathulelwa, has positioned the party’s manifesto as a direct response to what they describe as years of neglect in Matatiele. Highlighting key service delivery issues, the candidate outlined plans to address crime, water shortages, poor sanitation, and support for small businesses and people living with disabilities. According to Mathulelwa, these priorities reflect where EFF-led municipality would take a different approach from the current administration. “In some parts of Matatiele, people are still using pit toilets. As per human rights standards, it is unacceptable for people to be still using pit toilets years after democracy”.
Mathulelwa further stated that since the advent democracy, people living with disabilities have never been provided with wheelchairs by the municipality and that those who registered were provide with wheelchairs through the intervention of the EFF.
“Her selection is not merely a political appointment, it is a testament to the EFF’s unwavering commitment to placing capable, intellectually formidable, and community-centric individuals at the forefront of local governance,” the statement read. The EFF highlighted Mathulelwa’s recent academic achievement as key to her readiness for the role, saying it equips her with both theoretical understanding and practical insight to tackle the complex challenges facing Matatiele. According to the party, her leadership is expected to inject renewed vigor and strategic direction into EFF efforts to reclaim the Municipality for its rightful owners, the people.