By Mloko Elihle
All eyes were on Mtubatuba, Durban on Saturday, 5 September 2026, as National Citizens League (NCL) leader Muzi Hlope officially launched the party’s 2026 Local Government Elections selection manifesto.
Instead of choosing major cities such as Durban or Johannesburg, NCL selected Mtubatuba, a rural municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal known for water shortages, deteriorating roads and ongoing land challenges, as the starting point for its campaign.
According to Hlope, Mtubatuba represents the reality faced by millions of South Africans living in neglected communities.
“Mtubatuba is not just a municipality. It is the true face of South Africa where service delivery has collapsed and communities have been forgotten. Change does not start in boardrooms, but in villages and small towns where people suffer the most,” said Hlope.
During the launch, Hlope, who is also the founder and president of the National Community Liberation (NACOL) outlined several commitments aimed at empowering communities through skills development, education and job creation.
The party’s national chairperson described Hlope as a clean, honest and God-fearing leader who has never been convicted of any crime or arrested, saying integrity would remain one of the organisation’s core values.
A key pledge made by Hlope was to equip community members with practical skills that can help them create sustainable livelihoods.
“People who create products such as soap and candles need support. We are looking forward to training people who can create candles because the aim is to provide basic unique skills,” he said.
Hlope added that skills training would go hand in hand with capacity-building programmes.
“Even if we provide skills, we will also provide capacity building.”
He said NACOL believes that education and skills development are essential tools in the fight against poverty and unemployment, particularly among women and young people.
“NACOL believes that skills and education are essential. We will provide needed skills to women and youth.”
The organisation also pledged to develop business databases and create opportunities for small businesses, especially those operating in rural areas.
“We will develop a database for businesses, especially women- and youth-owned enterprises.”
Hlope said the party’s vision is to connect communities with relevant employment opportunities, skills programmes and educational resources.
“We want to connect communities with relevant work opportunities, skills and education.”
On economic development, he vowed to attract new investors and create markets for emerging enterprises.
“People who disrespect and insult others are going to be removed from NACOL.”
Hlope further committed the organisation to supporting children’s education and prioritising improved service delivery in communities.
He said access to quality education should not be determined by a family’s financial circumstances and promised that the party would work towards helping deserving children access educational opportunities.
Addressing party discipline, Hlope warned that disrespectful conduct would not be tolerated within NACOL.
“People who disrespect and insult others are going to be removed from NACOL.”
As the 2026 Local Government Elections campaign gains momentum, NACOL leaders say their focus will remain on addressing the everyday challenges facing rural communities and restoring public confidence in local government through practical solutions, skills development and job creation initiative
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