South Africa president urges ANC to fix poor local government ahead of poll

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa called on the African National Congress (ANC), his party, to address its poor record on delivering basic services, ahead of upcoming local elections where the ANC is expected to lose support.

The country, Africa’s most industrialised, is required to hold local elections before November. Historically, the ANC performs worse in local elections than in national ones, as voters express their frustration with issues such as leaking water pipes, sewage problems, and deteriorating roads.

Ramaphosa, speaking at a televised event in Rustenburg, North West Province, to mark the ANC's 114th birthday, said: "The first task for our movement in 2026 is to fix local government and improve services."

In the 2021 local elections, the ANC secured less than half of the votes for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994, a sign of what would later occur in national elections when the party lost its majority.

"Municipalities must fulfil their basic obligations," Ramaphosa said. "They must repair potholes, collect refuse regularly, and provide clean water and sanitation."

The ANC has been praised for uniting a nation once divided by race and for its progressive constitution and judicial system. It also has significant influence internationally, as demonstrated by its legal action against Israel for genocide and its success in securing a G20 summit declaration despite a U.S. boycott.

However, the ANC's performance on more practical matters, such as repairing infrastructure and staffing schools, has been disappointing.

Ramaphosa stated that while chronic power shortages had ended, some municipalities still experience local power outages. He also announced a commitment of 54 billion rand ($3.28 billion) in government funding for water and power infrastructure.

Despite some economic improvement, unemployment remains high, and many young people are beginning to question whether the country’s democracy—and the ANC—truly serve their interests.

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