Mkhuleko Hlengwa

IFP

eThekwini

Mkhuleko Hlengwa on politricking.

Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News

The Person

The 39-year-old is the IFP’s national spokesperson and current Deputy Transport Minister. He’s spent about 15 years in the National Assembly, having entered Parliament in 2012 as one of its youngest members.

The Message

“If it’s broken…fix it now!”

Hlengwa’s pitch is that eThekwini has the assets to rank among the continent’s leading metro economies, but only with competent leadership. His approach is to repair what is broken now. He grounds the campaign in integrity, respect, accountability and service delivery, and promises to rebuild public trust.

The Agenda

Hlengwa’s three key priorities: water, crime and a cleaner city. He plans to establish a Mayoral Water Crisis Committee to bring stakeholders together to help end the provision crisis. By 2027, he wants the plan to shift from emergency repairs to long-term resilience.

He plans to boost the Metro Police contingency to combat crime and fund community policing. He also wants a cleaner city to improve living conditions, draw tourists and win investors.

The Challenge

The IFP won 7.06% of the vote in eThekwini in 2021 and wants more. It has paired Hlengwa with businessman Sizwe Skhakhane as deputy. The party’s biggest obstacle is the MKP, which has gained traction across the province, which is Jacob Zuma’s stronghold.