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Ramaphosa calls for cleaner, better-run South African cities
President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the state of South Africa’s towns and cities back in the spotlight, telling ANC leaders that residents deserve municipalities that are cleaner, better managed and more accountable.
Ramaphosa made the comments during an ANC National Working Committee visit to the Nelson Mandela Region in the Eastern Cape on Monday, 4 May 2026. The visit formed part of the party’s broader service delivery oversight programme, which is being rolled out across metropolitan municipalities.
A message aimed at struggling municipalities
Accompanied by Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and other officials, Ramaphosa visited service delivery sites in the region, including areas linked to infrastructure and construction work.
His message was simple: municipalities cannot only exist on paper. They need to function politically, administratively and organisationally.
For many South Africans, that point will feel painfully familiar. Across the country, residents have grown used to overflowing bins, potholes, water interruptions and public spaces that look neglected. Ramaphosa’s comments tapped into that frustration, especially in metros where service delivery has become one of the biggest political pressure points.
Why the clean-city message matters
The call for cleaner cities is not just about appearances. In South African communities, refuse collection, street maintenance and functioning municipal offices are often seen as the most basic signs that government is working.
When rubbish piles up or public areas are left unmanaged, residents do not see a policy failure they see daily proof that the municipality has lost control.
That is why Ramaphosa’s remarks carry a sharper political meaning. With the 2026 local government elections set for 4 November 2026, service delivery is likely to be one of the defining issues on the ballot. The Presidency confirmed that the next municipal elections must take place after the current council term ends on 1 November 2026.
Nelson Mandela Bay remains a symbolic stop
The Nelson Mandela Bay visit also carries local significance. Gqeberha and surrounding areas have repeatedly been used as examples in national conversations about municipal performance, water infrastructure, illegal dumping and urban decline.
This is not the first time Ramaphosa has linked public cleanliness in the area to broader questions of dignity and service delivery. In 2022, GroundUp reported on a Mandela Day clean-up in Gqeberha where residents questioned why clean-up efforts could not happen more regularly, rather than only during high-profile visits.
That history makes Monday’s message feel less like a once-off comment and more like part of a larger debate: residents want visible, consistent service delivery, not occasional political attention.
Social media framed the visit as service delivery oversight
ANC-linked social media accounts presented the visit as part of the party’s effort to monitor progress on the ground, with posts referring to community engagement and work at a water pump station intended to improve water delivery.
That framing is important because service delivery has become one of the ANC’s biggest credibility tests. For voters, the issue is no longer only about promises. It is about whether taps work, streets are cleaned, waste is collected, and municipal leaders can explain what is being fixed and when.
The bigger picture
Ramaphosa’s comments may sound obvious, but they land in a country where many residents feel they have had to lower their expectations of local government.
A clean street, a working water system and a responsive municipality should not be treated as luxuries. They are the everyday basics that shape whether people feel respected in their own communities.
The real test will not be the oversight visit itself. It will be whether municipalities can turn the president’s message into visible change long after the cameras have left.
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