ANC launches hotline to improve municipal service delivery ahead of elections

ANC launches service delivery hotline ahead of local elections

With local government elections looming, the African National Congress (ANC) has rolled out a new strategy to reconnect with residents frustrated by slow municipal services. A toll-free hotline will allow citizens to report service delivery problems directly to the party, while rapid-response technical teams will monitor municipal performance in priority areas on a weekly basis.

The move comes amid growing public dissatisfaction with delays in water, electricity, sanitation, and other municipal services, issues that could influence voter sentiment in the upcoming polls.

Lekgotla resolutions target municipal reform

The plans were unveiled by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula following the party’s recent lekgotla in Johannesburg. Among the resolutions:

• Strengthen municipal financial management and billing systems

• Eliminate unfunded budgets

• Fill funded vacancies with skilled personnel

• Punish maladministration and corruption

Mbalula stressed that the lekgotla identified the ANC’s main challenge as poor policy implementation, rather than policy gaps. Weak intergovernmental coordination and institutional capacity deficits were also cited as obstacles to effective local governance.

“The ANC recommits itself to governing with humility, accountability, and urgency, fully conscious of the expectations and hopes of South Africans,” Mbalula said. “This moment requires leadership that is decisive, disciplined, and people-centred.”

Rapid-response teams to monitor priority municipalities

The party’s new approach goes beyond a hotline. Technical teams will be deployed to municipalities identified as high-risk or underperforming. These teams will provide hands-on support, identify systemic weaknesses, and report weekly on progress, ensuring the ANC has real-time oversight of service delivery ahead of the elections.

Observers note that such rapid-response initiatives have been tried before, but their success has often hinged on political will and adequate resources. Social media reactions have been mixed, with some residents welcoming the new channel, while others are skeptical, citing past promises that failed to materialise.

Migration and border management in focus

The ANC’s lekgotla also highlighted a renewed focus on migration, borders, and law enforcement. In addition to improving municipal governance, the party plans to intensify crackdowns on illegal mining operations and zama zamas, with operations led by intelligence-driven coordination.

A White Paper on international migration is in the works, aimed at modernising South Africa’s immigration system, closing longstanding gaps, and providing clear legal authority for enforcement and accountability. Border management will also see upgrades, including better technology and enhanced capacity for the Border Management Authority, covering land, sea, and air checkpoints.

Restoring credibility ahead of elections

For the ANC, the combined approach of municipal oversight, rapid-response teams, and migration reforms is framed as a commitment to restoring credibility and a developmental focus in local government.

Yet, political analysts warn that while the initiatives may generate short-term public goodwill, real change will depend on consistent follow-through, especially in historically underperforming municipalities. Residents on social media have already voiced cautious optimism, noting that the party’s pledges must translate into tangible service delivery before the ballot.

As the 2026 local elections draw nearer, the ANC’s hotline and municipal interventions signal a race against time to repair trust and show voters that lessons from past failures are being taken seriously.

{Source: The Citizen}

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