The president of South Africa calls on the ANC to improve poor local governance before the election
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday called on his co-ruling African National Congress to tackle its poor performance in delivering basic services, as local elections approach and the ANC’s vote share is anticipated to decline.
Africa’s most industrialised country is required to conduct local elections before November. The ANC frequently performs poorly in these local polls compared to national elections, as voters express their dissatisfaction with issues such as leaking water pipes, sewage discharges, and deteriorating roads.
“Our movement’s primary objective in 2026 is to enhance local government and elevate services,” Ramaphosa stated during a televised event in Rustenburg, Northwest Province, commemorating the 114th anniversary of his party.
In the 2021 local election, the ANC secured less than half of the votes for the first time since the 1994 end of white minority rule, serving as a precursor to national polls less than three years later when the party lost its majority. “Municipalities must … fulfill their basic obligations,” Ramaphosa stated. “It is essential to address potholes, ensure regular refuse removal, and provide access to clean water and sanitation.”
The ANC received acclaim for bringing together a nation fractured by racial divisions, and for establishing one of the most advanced constitutions and judicial systems globally.
It excels in diplomacy, pursuing a genocide case against Israel and achieving a G20 summit declaration even in the face of a U.S. boycott.
Simultaneously, its performance on more routine responsibilities, like fixing drains and staffing schools, has been lacking.
Ramaphosa stated that chronic power shortages have come to an end; however, certain municipalities still experience local outages. He committed 54 billion rand ($3.28 billion) in government funding for water and power infrastructure.
While growth has seen an uptick, unemployment continues to be a significant issue, leading many young individuals to begin “questioning whether our democracy … and indeed our movement truly serves them,” Ramaphosa stated.
