A centrist party founded by Bantu Holomisa in 1997, blending social conservatism with developmental, good-governance politics. Its 2026 LGE manifesto centres on 'self-sustainable municipalities' built through infrastructure maintenance, clean governance and financial discipline.
In the 2021 local elections the UDM won 49 council seats across 23 municipalities, mostly in the Eastern Cape (44), the North West (2) and Gauteng (1).
A match on these questions is not agreement with a party's whole programme. Here are other policies we did not ask you about.
Other recorded policies from United Democratic Movement
Family planning in primary care; five-year moratorium on rules blocking rural doctors from stocking medicines.
Free schooling to Grade 12; aid for selected tertiary fields.
Compare this issueSelected policies, not a full manifesto or ballot list. National policies are context, not powers a council can exercise on its own. Local plans can also need other agencies. Read dates and sources before deciding.
Maintain existing water, roads, electricity and sanitation infrastructure.
dailymaverick.co.zaImprove billing, financial discipline and realistic budgeting.
dailymaverick.co.zaProtect indigent households through fair tariff policy.
dailymaverick.co.zaSupport small businesses, cooperatives and informal traders.
dailymaverick.co.zaRelease well-located land and upgrade informal settlements.
dailymaverick.co.zaTop municipal jobs, like the city manager and the head of finance, should be filled by an independent panel. Political parties should have no say in who gets them.
"Promises capable, ethical administration and better appointments, without an independent panel excluding political parties."
The law should stop the municipality from raising rates and service charges (water, electricity, refuse) by more than inflation each year.
"Supports realistic budgets, billing and resident consultation on tariffs; neither an inflation cap nor explicit opposition to one is established."
Note: Official campaigns page confirms a 2026 manifesto and a PDF download button, but the fetch did not expose the target PDF URL; no URL was guessed. The full launch speech and September 4 manifesto analysis were reopened, with September newsroom searches finding no newer relevant programme. Q13 newly records housing-related action against hijacked buildings, cautiously scored because conversion is not explicit. Q19 cleared: localisation in public procurement is not exclusive ownership eligibility for spazas. Other null positions remain unsupported.
Parties and readers can challenge any score with a source. A person reviews every submission; accepted changes appear in the public changelog with the date and source.
Party positions were checked in September 2026 against manifestos, party statements and news reports. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. Changelog →
Answer the same statements and see your match with UDM, and with every other party.
Start the quizPublish accountable coalition agreements and hold regular community meetings.
dailymaverick.co.zaPoor households should get more free water and electricity, even if better-off households pay more to cover it.
"Fair tariffs and protection of indigent households are a manifesto pillar; larger free allocations funded by higher household tariffs are not specified."
The municipality should cut off water and electricity to anyone who does not pay their bill, including businesses and government departments.
Where the municipality is failing at electricity, water or rubbish removal, it should pay private companies to run those services.
The municipality should cancel what poor households still owe on old water and electricity bills.
Every home should be put on prepaid electricity and water meters, including homes that now pay a monthly bill.
The municipality should buy electricity from private producers and from homes with solar panels, instead of only from Eskom.
When the municipality hands out contracts, it should stop giving black-owned businesses preference and choose only on price and ability to do the job.
Security guards, cleaners and other contract workers should become permanent municipal employees, even if that costs more than using private companies.
Before giving anyone a house, a trading permit or a business licence, the municipality should check that they are in the country legally.
"Calls for stronger border management and Home Affairs integrity; pre-service municipal status verification is inferred rather than stated."
Only spaza shops and street traders with a licence should be allowed to trade. Those without one should be shut down.
"Supports informal traders, reduced red tape and better trading spaces; opposition to blanket unlicensed-trader shutdowns is inferred."
Only South African citizens and permanent residents should be allowed to own or run spaza shops and street stalls.
"UDM manifesto has a 'strong localisation policy: municipal procurement should prioritise South African-owned businesses, particularly in townships, informal settlements and rural areas'. A citizen-first economic lean."
When people occupy land or buildings illegally, they should be removed straight away, even if they have nowhere else to go.
The municipality should take over hijacked and abandoned buildings in the city centre and turn them into affordable housing.
"Housing programme includes action against hijacked buildings and improved municipal rental stock; conversion into affordable housing is not expressly detailed."
Metro police should get more officers and the power to investigate crimes, not only handle traffic and by-laws.
The municipality should limit the hours taverns and bottle stores may sell alcohol, and close those next to schools and homes.
Renaming streets and public places after people from all of South Africa's history should carry on, even when it costs money and some residents object.