“Fix Local Government, Save the Economy”: Duma

The author argues that South Africa’s economic revival hinges on fixing dysfunctional municipalities. In this column, he warns that weak finances, poor infrastructure and governance failures are eroding democracy and stifling growth — and calls for urgent reforms to restore capable, accountable local government.

MEC Sboniso Duma

By Siboniso Duma

South Africans do not experience government first through Parliament or Cabinet. They experience it through their municipalities.

It is municipalities that provide water, maintain roads, collect refuse, approve business applications and create the conditions for local economic development. When municipalities work, communities thrive. When they fail, confidence in the democratic state begins to erode.

Municipal failures erode democracy

Local government has become one of the defining governance challenges of our democracy. The African National Congress has not shied away from this reality. Instead, it has embarked on an honest process of reflecting on its own performance. The recently concluded review of the ANC’s 2021 Local Government Elections Manifesto was not designed to celebrate achievements alone. It sought to measure delivery, identify shortcomings and draw lessons that can strengthen governance in the years ahead.

The review recognises that while progress has been made in some muicipalities, many communities continue to experience serious challenges. Weak financial management, ageing infrastructure, declining technical capacity, governance failures and poor maintenance have undermined service delivery in too many parts of the country.

ANC review exposes shortcomings

Acknowledging these challenges is not an admission of defeat. It is the first step towards rebuilding capable municipalities. Importantly, the review demonstrates that municipal failure cannot be reduced to a single cause. Rebuilding requires stronger political leadership, professional administration, financial discipline, technical expertise and sustained accountability.

These themes featured prominently during the ANC’s Local Government Manifesto Workshop, where government departments, organised labour, local government practitioners, policy specialists and other stakeholders exchanged views. One message emerged consistently: municipalities cannot continue with business as usual.

Structural reforms urgently needed

Participants emphasised the importance of learning from implementation, improving accountability and tailoring solutions to the unique realities of each municipality. Government itself has recognised the need for structural reform.

Operation Vulindlela has identified reforms aimed at improving municipal performance, including reviewing the funding model, strengthening the appointment of senior officials, modernising systems and improving the sustainability of municipal utility services. These proposals deserve serious national discussion because they focus on institutional foundations rather than temporary fixes.

The urgency of reform becomes even clearer when one considers the financial pressures confronting municipalities. Rising debt, poor revenue collection, underinvestment in infrastructure maintenance and increasing operational costs continue to weaken municipal finances. These are not abstract concerns—they determine whether households receive clean water, whether businesses invest with confidence and whether local economies create jobs.

Water security provides perhaps the clearest example. Recent ANC policy discussions have highlighted the need to reduce municipal water losses, improve infrastructure maintenance, diversify water sources and strengthen long‑term planning. Reliable water and sanitation services are not only constitutional obligations; they are fundamental drivers of economic growth and human dignity.

Economic growth depends on municipalities

Equally important were the contributions made by organised labour. COSATU reinforced the need for municipalities that are financially sustainable, professionally managed and capable of driving inclusive economic development while delivering reliable public services.

This underscores a national truth: South Africa cannot industrialise without functional municipalities. Tourism cannot flourish where towns are neglected. Investment cannot grow where infrastructure is unreliable. Small businesses cannot succeed where basic services collapse. Economic growth and capable local government are inseparable.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to launch the ANC’s 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto on 28 August 2026. Based on lessons from the 2021 review, the manifesto workshop and contributions of social partners, the forthcoming manifesto has the potential to be more than an election document. It can become a practical action plan for rebuilding municipalities, restoring public confidence and laying the foundation for inclusive local economic growth.

South Africans will rightly judge it not by the strength of its promises, but by the quality of its implementation. Yet if the lessons identified during the review process are translated into decisive action, the 2026 Manifesto could mark an important turning point in rebuilding capable, ethical and developmental local government.

The success of our democracy ultimately depends on municipalities that work for the people. Clean towns, reliable water and electricity, well‑maintained roads, thriving local economies and accountable governance should not be aspirations—they must become the lived reality of every South African community. TQ 

Disclaimer: Please note: This is a column written by a politician whose party, the African National Congress (ANC), will be contesting the upcoming local government elections.

About the author 

Siboniso Duma is the KwaZulu‑Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements and the Second Deputy Convener of the African National Congress in KwaZulu‑Natal. He writes here in his personal capacity.

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