A quiet but determined political shift is brewing in Soshanguve, one of Tshwane’s most densely populated townships, as a local resident steps forward to challenge the status quo ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Larry Matlala, a Soshanguve-based community figure, has officially launched an independent political party called PTA 012 — a movement he says is rooted entirely in the needs and voices of ordinary residents, not political elites.
Matlala’s decision to go it alone is bold, especially in a political landscape dominated by established parties with deep pockets and long-standing voter bases. But what PTA 012 lacks in institutional backing, it appears to be making up for in grassroots authenticity. The party’s core message is straightforward and deliberately accessible: work with the people, not above them.
That kind of language resonates deeply in communities like Soshanguve, where residents have long felt bypassed by councillors who show up at election time and disappear once the votes are counted. Matlala is banking on that frustration — and positioning himself as a direct alternative to the cycle of broken promises that has defined local governance in many parts of Tshwane.
At the heart of the PTA 012 campaign is a commitment to tackling real, on-the-ground community issues — from service delivery failures and crumbling infrastructure to unemployment and the lack of meaningful community participation in local decision-making. Matlala has been vocal about wanting residents to be active participants in shaping solutions, rather than passive recipients of whatever policies trickle down from municipal offices.
Larry Matlala and PTA 012 Put Grassroots Politics Back on the Map in Soshanguve
What makes this story particularly compelling is the scale of ambition versus the simplicity of the vehicle. PTA 012 began as a one-man operation — no party machinery, no corporate donors, no political dynasty backing it. Just a resident who looked at his community, saw unmet needs, and decided to act. That kind of origin story tends to either fizzle out quickly or catch fire in ways that surprise even the most seasoned political observers.
South Africa’s local government landscape has seen a noticeable shift in recent election cycles, with independent candidates and smaller parties eating into the support bases of the ANC and DA in various municipalities. The 2021 local government elections demonstrated that voters, particularly in townships and informal settlements, are increasingly willing to back alternatives when they feel genuinely heard. Matlala is entering the race at a moment when that appetite for change is arguably at its highest.
The name PTA 012 itself is a nod to the Pretoria area code — a deliberate choice that ties the party’s identity directly to its geography and its people. It’s local, it’s specific, and it signals that this isn’t a movement with national aspirations dressed up in community clothing. This is about Soshanguve, about Tshwane, and about the residents who have watched the city’s resources and attention flow unevenly for years.
Whether Matlala can convert community goodwill into actual votes remains the central question. Running as an independent or small party in South African local elections is notoriously difficult — ward-level organisation, voter registration drives, and campaign resources all play critical roles, and they require more than passion to execute. Our sources indicate that the real test for PTA 012 will come in how effectively Matlala can mobilise his base in the weeks leading up to polling day.
Still, there’s something worth watching here. South African politics needs more citizens willing to put their names on the line for their communities rather than waiting for existing structures to deliver. Larry Matlala and PTA 012 represent exactly that spirit — and regardless of the electoral outcome, their emergence adds a necessary and energising dimension to the conversation about what accountable, people-centred local governance in Tshwane should look like.