Ramaphosa unveils six-point local government manifesto and warns underperforming mayors will be removed

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday unveiled a six-point local government manifesto at Riverside Park near Diepsloot, saying the party’s mayors and councillors would have 100 days to show progress and warning that representatives who failed to perform would be removed.

Six priorities for five years

Speaking at the party’s manifesto launch ahead of the 4 November local government elections, Ramaphosa set out six areas of focus the ANC plans to prioritise over the next five years. He said each municipality would get a localised manifesto tailored to its specific strengths and challenges.

1. Reliable and affordable basic services

Ramaphosa said the first priority is to provide water, electricity and other municipal services that are affordable and function for all communities. He listed water, sanitation, electricity, roads, refuse removal and well-maintained infrastructure as essential foundations for dignity and development.

“Every community must have reliable water, sanitation, electricity, roads, refuse removal and well-maintained infrastructure as the foundation of dignity and development.”

The president pointed to what he described as a “remarkable turnaround” in the supply of electricity and said the country had achieved more than 400 days without load shedding and eliminated load reduction in six provinces. He said the next task was ensuring electricity reached every home and business at affordable prices.

On water, Ramaphosa said a National Water Action Plan had mobilised municipalities and led to investment in dams, pipelines and treatment plants, and that the focus would be on ensuring municipalities can supply clean water to residents.

The manifesto also includes measures to upgrade municipal distribution networks, expand network capacity and introduce smart metering, reduce outages, improve fault response times, repair ageing infrastructure, fix leaks and eliminate sewage spills.

2. More jobs and local investment

The second priority is to create more work and attract investment in cities, towns, townships and rural areas. Ramaphosa said the ANC would work to create conditions for investment, enterprise growth, job creation and inclusive local economic development, and would support spaza shops and small businesses.

Municipalities would digitise business services and improve turnaround times for planning approvals, building plans, rezoning and licensing, while the ANC said it would promote investment in township and rural economic infrastructure across several sectors.

3. Safer, cleaner and healthier communities

Ramaphosa said the third priority is public safety, cleaner neighbourhoods and healthier communities. He noted community safety, social cohesion and the fight against gender-based violence and femicide as priorities, and said gender-based violence and femicide had been classified as a national disaster.

“This means we will be able to better coordinate a response across society and mobilise the resources and capabilities of government to greater effect.”

The ANC said it would work with law enforcement, community policing forums and other partners to improve safety, maintain public facilities and tackle illegal dumping, hijacked buildings, slumlords and criminal syndicates.

4. Municipal finances that deliver

Financial sustainability of municipalities is the fourth priority. Ramaphosa said every rand collected or transferred to municipalities must be managed responsibly, protected from waste and corruption, and used to deliver services.

The party has launched a review of the local government funding model and the White Paper on Local Government and said it would complete the review, restore financial health, end waste and corruption, improve revenue collection and billing, control expenditure and strengthen procurement and contract management.

5. Well-run, ethical and accountable municipalities

The fifth priority focuses on building capable, stable, ethical and accountable municipalities. Ramaphosa said public office must not be used for personal enrichment or political protection and pointed to measures the ANC has taken, including the step-aside rule and the Integrity Commission.

“Public office must never be used for personal enrichment, political protection or access to public resources.”

The party would require local representatives to sign a Public Performance Agreement and Code of Ethical Conduct, undergo regular performance assessments, take part in leadership development and report to communities. Ramaphosa said the ANC remained committed to 50/50 gender representation among its local government candidates.

He said that public representatives who failed to fulfil responsibilities would be removed and that the step-aside rule would be applied where people are charged with corruption or other serious offences.

6. Municipalities that listen and account to residents

The sixth priority is strengthening public participation and accountability. Ramaphosa said local government belongs to the people and that communities must have a meaningful role in municipal priorities, plans, budgets and decisions.

He said the ANC would engage traditional and Khoi-San leaders and work with the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa and royal formations to strengthen relationships with traditional leaders through a National Royal Lekgotla and provincial engagements ahead of the elections.

Performance, transparency and modernisation

Ramaphosa said councils would be required to publish budgets, procurement information, council decisions, audit outcomes, performance information and corrective actions in accessible formats. Where the ANC governs, municipalities would be expected to act on Auditor-General findings within 12 months and recover public funds lost through maladministration and corruption.

The manifesto includes commitments to modernise municipal services through online access to core services while maintaining in-person services for those without digital access.

Accountability within the ANC

Ramaphosa acknowledged the party faces challenges but also highlighted progress in expanding access to basic services. He warned that mayors and councillors who fail to fulfil responsibilities will face removal, and that political accountability mechanisms and measures to prevent conflicts of interest and strengthen supply chain governance would be introduced.