New Delhi, Nov. 4 -- The elections will decide who leads South Africa's eight main city municipalities as well as 44 district and 205 local councils.

A key battleground is the largest city and economic hub of Johannesburg. It's often been called Africa's richest city, but its problems with water, electricity supplies and other public services have underlined the frustrations of millions of South Africans with local government failures.

Johannesburg has changed its mayor five times in four years since the last local elections. It is currently governed by a fragile ANC-led coalition but is a target for South Africa's second biggest party, the Democratic Alliance.

A 75-year-old mayoral candidate has captured attention

The DA has put forw...