Rise Mzansi says residents' interests will come first in any potential coalition talks
With the IEC’s vote count at 43%, preliminary results show the party is polling at 2.26% in Johannesburg, where it was the only municipality in Gauteng in which it fielded a mayoral candidate.
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Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi (second from left) during a media briefing on 18 August 2025. Picture: Alpha Ramushwana/EWN
Alpha Ramushwana/EWN
Rise Mzansi said that residents' interests will take priority should it be approached to participate in coalition talks, despite its limited showing in the municipal elections.
With the IEC’s vote count at 43%, preliminary results show the party is polling at 2.26% in Johannesburg, where it was the only municipality in Gauteng in which it fielded a mayoral candidate.
The party contested in just 7 municipalities across the country.
Speaking to John Perlman on 702, Rise Mzansi chief organiser Makashule Gana said the party was not disappointed with its performance, given the limited number of municipalities it contested.
“I looked at this in terms of how one focuses their energy, one looking at the resources that I had at my disposal, and then you are like, all right, given the kind of imaging talent that we have, especially coming out of Gauteng, it bodes well for us going into the 2029 elections. What's guaranteed is that Rise Mzansi is going to be part of the council in Johannesburg. That one, because we had focused a lot of energy on that.”