- President Cyril Ramaphosa made a stark admission about the state of South Africa's municipalities
- The president announced a major policy shift around how electricity and water revenues will be managed
- The overhaul arrives less than two weeks before the 4 November elections, drawing sharp reactions online
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG - President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday launched the Revised White Paper on Local Government at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, offering what his office described as a comprehensive overhaul of a system he openly conceded is broken.
Speaking at the event on 22 October, Ramaphosa did not mince words about the scale of the problem.
"We must therefore acknowledge, without qualification, that too many of our municipalities are failing to meet the needs and expectations of the people they are meant to serve. This cannot continue," he said.
What changes will be introduced?
Among the most significant changes proposed is a ring-fencing policy for utility revenue. Going forward, income collected from electricity and water sales will be reserved exclusively for infrastructure maintenance before any other expenditure is considered.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of a staggering debt crisis: municipalities collectively owe Eskom more than R120 billion, with many also in arrears to water boards.
The White Paper also moves away from a one-size-fits-all governance structure. Instead, responsibilities will be calibrated to what each municipality can realistically handle, with functions reassigned to other authorities where local capacity falls short.
Ramaphosa says political disputes shouldn't affect service delivery
The president also stressed that political disputes inside councils must never be allowed to affect service delivery.
"A disagreement in council must never become an excuse for an unapproved budget, an abandoned project or the collapse of an essential service," he said, adding that communities "must never be held hostage by political instability."
On accountability, the president called for real consequences for corruption and negligence. He also cautioned that restoring public trust would require visible action rather than political announcements.
"Trust will not be restored by speeches. It will be restored when a reported fault is fixed promptly," he said.
How did South Africans react?
The timing of the announcement, released less than two weeks before the 4 November local elections, drew immediate scepticism from the public.
Deborah Ward Fritz wrote:
"Funny how things happen just before elections."
Noornissa Poppy remarked:
"He said this also five years ago."
Philip Bateman was blunter still:
"Took 32 years to figure that out."
Paul Mc Taggart echoed the sentiment:
"Only because it's nearly time to vote."
Daniel Coetzee quipped:
"They found a reset button... Was it there the whole time or did they forget to press it earlier?"
Other statements Ramaphosa has recently made about the country
- Ramaphosa called for new youth employment strategies, but South Africans questioned his decision.
- Ramaphosa urged South Africans to brace for the loss of the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
- Ramaphosa promised jobs for South Africans of all ages, but citizens questioned his pledge.
Source: Briefly News
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