ANC Reviews 2021 Manifesto: Highlights Expansion in Basic Services and Details Local Government Turnarounds
By KasiBCAfrica News
KASIBCAUDIO
SOUTH AFRICA — The African National Congress (ANC) has presented its local government interventions review, evaluating its performance under the 2021 Local Government Elections Manifesto theme, "Building Better Communities Together: A People’s Plan for a Better Life for All."
The comprehensive review outlines the ruling party's record over the 2021–2026 term, highlighting expansions in basic infrastructure alongside interventions aimed at addressing financial distress, governance failures, and service delivery backlogs.
Long-Term Progress in Basic Services (2002–2025)
The review documents sustained long-term expansions in household access to essential infrastructure across South Africa's municipalities:
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Formal Housing: The proportion of households residing in formal dwellings expanded from 65.1% in 1996 to more than 84% by 2025.
The party reiterated its commitment to the Free Basic Services framework, which provides qualifying indigent households with a subsidized monthly allocation of water, electricity, sanitation, and refuse removal.
Section 139 Interventions & Municipal Turnarounds
Addressing structural weaknesses and financial distress across municipalities, the review noted that 39 municipalities were receiving Section 139 intergovernmental interventions in 2025, including four subject to national intervention under Section 139(7).
To streamline oversight, the government introduced the Intergovernmental Monitoring, Support and Interventions Bill in 2025 to establish formal timelines and criteria for early intervention under Section 154 before total administrative failure occurs.
Notable Municipal Turnarounds Highlighted:
- Bela-Bela Local Municipality: Achieved the first clean audit in its history.
- Mamusa Local Municipality: Progressed from seven consecutive disclaimers to an unqualified audit under intervention, alongside improved Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) spending.
- Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality: Fully spent its infrastructure grant allocation in 2024/25, installed thousands of smart meters, and boosted local revenue.
- Eastern Cape Governance: Eight Eastern Cape municipalities achieved clean audits, anchored by performance in Mnquma and Senqu local municipalities.
- uMhlathuze Local Municipality: Maintained clean audit outcomes coupled with service delivery gains.
- District Governance: Capricorn and Waterberg District Councils in Limpopo sustained clean audit records.
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Metropolitan Recovery: eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality recorded a 93% cumulative revenue collection rate, fully restored all public beaches, and achieved its highest tourist spend on record in 2025 under the Presidential Working Group.
Governance, Anti-Corruption, and Legislative Reforms
To tackle tender-rigging, nepotism, and maladministration, the review highlighted key regulatory and policy mechanisms:
- Municipal Staff Regulations: Enforced uniform appointment and discipline standards to prevent officials dismissed for financial misconduct from securing employment in other municipalities.
- Consultant Reduction: Prioritizing internal capacity building within municipal finance departments to diminish reliance on third-party consultants for financial statement preparation.
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2026 White Paper on Local Government: Scheduled for formal approval and publication in September 2026, the White Paper will introduce structural reforms to local government financial systems, spatial transformation, and a structured compact with Traditional and Khoisan Leadership.
"The review is an exercise in responsible leadership and democratic accountability... The ANC will account honestly, implement purposefully, and improve continuously as we prepare for the 2026 Local Government Elections." — African National Congress Statement
