RESTORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DELIVER SERVICES @KASIBCNEWS

The African National Congress (ANC) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to turning around the state of local government and fast-tracking the delivery of basic services, particularly access to water and sanitation. As the governing party, we do not take for granted the trust of the people — trust that is earned through decisive action, political accountability, and the restoration of functional municipalities that place service delivery at the centre of governance. 

The NEC Local Government Intervention Task Team has intensified its oversight, ensuring that priority municipalities receive urgent and targeted support. This is not a symbolic exercise—it is a structured and results-driven intervention designed to confront governance failures, deteriorating infrastructure, and service delivery shortcomings with urgency and resolve. 

Manifesto in Motion: 

Delivering the Commitments of 2024 Our 2024 Election Manifesto set a clear directive to fix municipalities, uproot corruption, and restore dignity through reliable services. This is exactly what we are doing. Over the past two months, the Task Team has engaged directly with struggling municipalities in Gauteng, Free State, and the Eastern Cape. 

These engagements have been action-oriented, ensuring that political leadership at regional and provincial levels, supported by technical teams, drive tangible improvements to ensure better services for our people. In Mangaung, water infrastructure is now under daily monitoring, with direct engagements at national level to fasttrack immediate interventions. 

In Ekurhuleni, the ANC-led government is implementing a coordinated plan to stabilise electricity supply, curb vandalism, and complete stalled human settlements projects. In West Rand, while challenges persist, ongoing efforts have been acknowledged, and targeted support is being reinforced. 

In Tshwane, coalition stability has enabled progress, and the ANC is leading visibility efforts to ensure transparent communication with residents. In Nelson Mandela Bay, where deep structural challenges remain, a provincial-led intervention is being strengthened, focusing on financial recovery and political stability. Across all municipalities, accountability is being tightened, and service delivery is being repositioned as the primary measure of governance effectiveness in line with our manifesto. Water and Energy Security Is Life: 

The ANC Is Delivering It As we close National Water Month and Human Rights Month, the Department of Water and Sanitation has transformed South Africa into a national construction site. A substantial investment has been made in major infrastructure projects. 

The recently concluded Water and Sanitation Indaba sent a clear message: securing water access is not a debate—it is a national priority. On the 10th of February 2025, the government handed over the Lubisi Treatment Works, a component of the Cluster 4Bulk Water Supply Project in the Chris Hani District Municipality, Eastern Cape. The project, implemented under the Department's Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), aims to provide sustainable and reliable water services to underserved communities in the Intsika Yethu Sakhisizwe and Emalahleni Local Municipalities. 

The Water Treatment Workd wil service 96 communities, with an estimated population of 94 307 within the local municipalities of INtsika Yethu Emalahleni and Sakhisizwe. The country is currently a construction site in the water sector. Projects such as the Loskop Regional Bulk Water Project (Mpumalanga), the raising of Clanwilliam and Hazelmere dams, the Vaal Gamagara and Olifants Management Model (Limpopo and Northern Cape), and the Pilanesburg Bulk Water Supply (North West) are no longer policy promises; they are under construction, restoring water access and economic confidence. Infrastructure upgrades at Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch plant will ensure an additional 2.4 million residents across Gauteng receive water. 

In George, Western Cape, the upgraded Garden Route Dam pump station will accommodate rapid population growth and prevent sewage spillages. In KwaXimba, eThekwini, a new water package plant will be handed over on Monday, 31st March demonstrating the ANC’s commitment to sustainable service delivery. Immediate priorities • Fixing the Foundations of Water Governance • Beyond construction, we have taken firm steps to address systemic weaknesses, including: • Unacceptably high levels of non-revenue water losses • Ageing and collapsing municipal water infrastructure • Illegal water connections and rampant wastage • Poor revenue collection and financial mismanagement Fighting the water-tankering and construction mafia 

The ANC fully supports the bold reforms being introduced through the Water Services Amendment Bill, National Treasury’s Metropolitan Trading Services reforms, and Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela. These reforms are critical in ring-fencing revenue, strengthening accountability, and ensuring professionalised water service management. We applaud the men and women at Eskom for their diligent work that the institution adding 800 megawatts to the national grid. We are happy that this addition contributes immensely to our energy security. 

Also welcome the extension of life on Koeberg Unit Number 1 with 930 MW and the return of Medupi 4 contributing additional 800 MW. Efforts are underway to eliminate load reduction. We note that municipalities, working with Provincial governments, in Limpopo, Free State and North West have started with addressing this challenge, with other provinces to follow. 

This work will contribute to our sustained improvement of the network industries, bolstering economic growth trajectory thus ensuring job creation for the millions of our youth, support the growth of SMME capacity and the end of load-shedding. A New Framework for Local Government The ANC refuses to be passive in the face of crisis. 

We are preparing for the future. In April 2025, the ANC will convene a Local Government Workshop to sharpen our contributions to the review of the White Paper on Local Government. This workshop will ensure that the ANC leads the charge in reshaping municipal legislative and fiscal frameworks, directly informing the development of our 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto—grounded in real lessons, not empty rhetoric. Rebuilding Trust, Delivering Results The ANC does not retreat in the face of complexity—we advance with urgency and resolve. We do not issue excuses—we implement interventions. We call on all deployees, councillors, and regional structures to intensify oversight, boldly communicate progress, and strengthen the connection between the movement and the people. 

The ANC must be visible, not just in words, but in action—delivering water, fixing municipalities, and restoring hope. We remain resolute: a capable, ethical, and developmental local government is non-negotiable.