Hill‑Lewis calls ANC’s 100‑day municipal pledge ‘implausible’

Democratic Alliance leader Geordin Hill‑Lewis has criticised the African National Congress’s pledge to fix struggling municipalities within 100 days, calling the promise “implausible and lack[ing] integrity.” His comments followed the launch of the ANC’s local government election manifesto in Johannesburg as parties campaign ahead of the November 4 elections.

DA rejects quick‑fix timetable

Hill‑Lewis said the ANC was asking voters to trust it to repair municipalities after years of governance failures. He framed the promise as unrealistic and a repetition of failed stewardship.

“The ANC’s manifesto asks South Africans to believe that the same party that has presided over the collapse of municipalities across the country will suddenly fix them again within 100 days, and fill every critical municipal vacancy within 120 days.”

“These promises are implausible and lack integrity. The ANC cannot be trusted to fix what is broken.”

What the ANC promises

The ANC launched its local government manifesto at Riverside Park near Diepsloot in Johannesburg, presenting a six‑point plan ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

Under the plan, mayors and councillors would be required to publish priorities, establish service‑delivery baselines and demonstrate measurable progress on urgent problems within their first 100 days in office. The party has also committed to filling critical municipal vacancies within 120 days.

Ramaphosa acknowledges municipal failures

At the manifesto launch, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that services remained unreliable and infrastructure was deteriorating in too many municipalities. He said some councils had been weakened by poor leadership, political instability, corruption and unsuitable appointments.

“We will strengthen financial planning, improve audit outcomes and ensure that repeated financial misconduct has consequences.”

DA lays out its alternative

Hill‑Lewis described the DA’s offer as an alternative based on accountability, competence and service delivery rather than quick fixes. He said the DA could point to its record in government and would not promise an instant solution.

“The DA does not promise miracles in 100 days. We are offering the hard work, sound management and honest government needed to make things work every day.”

He said a DA‑led national government would protect revenue collected for water and electricity so it was spent on those services, appoint people on merit rather than politics, reduce red tape and hold those who waste or steal public money accountable.

Election context

The exchange came as both parties campaign ahead of the November 4 local government elections, with the ANC and DA campaigning against each other despite both serving in the national Government of National Unity.