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MOVE SA President and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Rali Mampeule explains why he is leaving the building site for City Hall: “You can’t keep building in a city that’s broken.”
JOHANNESBURG / EKURHULENI – Rali Mampeule has spent his life starting from nothing and building something. This November, he is asking the people of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni to consider his vision for rebuilding their cities.
The President of MOVE SA and the party’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate is contesting the 4 November 2026 local government elections. He says his decision to enter politics comes from years of witnessing the challenges facing communities, businesses and municipalities.
“I got tired of watching good people fail inside a system that was never built to help them,” said Mampeule. “I can build a house. I can fund a project. But I cannot make a city pay its suppliers, fix its roads or hire on merit unless I am the one running it.”
From Hawker to Harvard to the Mayoral Race
Raised in Limpopo’s Magoebaskloof area, Mampeule began his entrepreneurial journey as a street hawker. His path eventually took him to Harvard and into South Africa’s real estate and infrastructure sector.
In 2019, he founded the South African Housing and Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF), which aims to support efforts to address South Africa’s housing shortage. He currently serves as its CEO.
His experience includes property development, infrastructure investment and a partnership with the University of Johannesburg on an academic initiative.
Beyond property, Mampeule serves on the boards of MetroFibre Networx, the Global Surgery Foundation, the Mampeule Foundation and the University of Johannesburg Research Centre. He also works alongside his wife, Makentse Mampeule.
Now, as President of MOVE SA and its Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Mampeulesays he wants to apply the principles of clear targets, accountability and measurable delivery to local government.
During a BizNews interview, he outlined his commitment to what he described as “fearless” politics, ending cadre deployment, addressing outstanding municipal payments to suppliers and developing a plan for the city’s financial recovery.
What Motivated His Decision to Enter Politics?
Through his work in housing and infrastructure, Mampeule says he has witnessed development projects being delayed, small businesses struggling with late payments and employment decisions influenced by political connections rather than merit.
He believes these challenges reflect deeper problems in municipal governance.
“It is not about one party or one mayor,” he said. “It is about a habit. We reward who you know instead of what you can do, and ordinary people pay for it every single day.”
A Business Approach to Local Government
Mampeule believes that practical management principles can help address some of the challenges facing Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
MOVE SA’s proposed approach focuses on five key priorities:
1. Good Governance and Accountability
MOVE SA proposes appointing qualified individuals, improving municipal performance and ending cadre deployment. The party believes that accountability and merit-based appointments are essential to effective service delivery.
2. Housing and Infrastructure Development
Housing remains a central priority for MOVE SA. Mampeule believes that partnerships between government and private investors can help accelerate affordable housing development, improve infrastructure and address the country’s housing shortage.
3. Economic Development and Job Creation
MOVE SA proposes creating an environment in which businesses can grow and create employment opportunities. Initiatives such as Business Fibre, MOVE Financial Services and MOVE Mobile form part of the party’s proposed approach to supporting entrepreneurs through connectivity and access to financial services.
4. Community Participation and Volunteerism
The party believes that community volunteers can play an important role in identifying local challenges, supporting development initiatives and strengthening cooperation between municipalities and residents.
5. Supporting Businesses Through Timely Payments
Mampeule believes municipalities must prioritise paying suppliers on time. He argues that delayed payments place unnecessary pressure on businesses, particularly small enterprises, and threaten existing jobs.
A Record of Delivery
Mampeule says his business experience provides a foundation for the approach he wants to bring to public office.
“Do not vote for me because I speak well,” Mampeule said. “Vote for me if what I have built matches what I say. And if I fail, you will know where to find me.”
He maintains that residents should be able to measure political leadership through practical results rather than promises.
A Call for Accountable Local Leadership
As the local government elections approach, Mampeule says the challenges facing Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni require leadership focused on implementation, accountability and measurable progress.
“This is not complicated,” said Mampeule. “People in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni have heard enough speeches. They are asking whether anyone will actually do the work. I intend to.”
MOVE SA’s local government agenda focuses on housing, infrastructure, good governance and economic development under its campaign message:
MOVE SA – LEAD LOCAL.
About MOVE SA
MOVE SA is a South African political party contesting the 2026 local government elections in the City of Johannesburg and the City of Ekurhuleni. The party’s priorities include housing development, infrastructure improvement, accountable governance and economic development.
Follow MOVE SA: https://linktr.ee/MoveForSA
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