South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on registered voters to participate in the country’s local government elections on November 4. He emphasized the need for municipal leaders who can restore basic services, maintain public infrastructure, and confront corruption. Ramaphosa identified infrastructure maintenance, reliable basic services, and the fight against corruption as central expectations for the next generation of municipal councils. He made particular reference to what he described as the “corruption mafia.”
Ramaphosa challenged incoming councillors to listen to the communities they would represent. He argued that residents were entitled to local authorities that treated their concerns seriously and involved them in decisions affecting their lives. The president emphasized that partnership was essential to making progress. He urged councillors to treat communities as partners and to be responsive to their needs.
The president’s appeal comes as South Africa prepares to elect municipal representatives responsible for decisions that directly affect residents. These decisions include water supply, electricity distribution, sanitation, roads, refuse collection, and other local services. The November 4 elections will take place against a backdrop of persistent concerns about municipal performance, financial pressures, deteriorating infrastructure, and allegations of corruption in local government.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the seriousness of these challenges in an address at the official launch of the revised White Paper on Local Government on October 22. He said too many municipalities were failing to meet public expectations, leaving communities dealing with unreliable services, neglected infrastructure, and administrations that did not respond adequately to residents. The revised policy framework proposes wide-ranging changes to how local government is structured, financed, managed, and held accountable.
The revised policy framework seeks to address weaknesses in municipal administration, overlapping responsibilities, and the politicisation of appointments. Ramaphosa said the government intended to establish a time-bound Local Government Transition Management Body to coordinate reforms. This body will be supported by a transition plan setting out responsibilities, priorities, and ways of measuring progress.
Ramaphosa also warned political parties against allowing disagreements and instability within municipal councils to disrupt public services after the elections. He emphasized that parties may compete for votes, form coalitions, or govern with majorities, but those elected would share the responsibility of ensuring that municipalities continued to function. The president declared November 4 a public holiday to allow registered voters to participate in the elections.
The outcome of the local government elections will determine the composition of municipal councils across the country. Elected representatives will be responsible for overseeing local administrations and addressing the needs of the communities they serve.
Key points
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged voters to choose municipal leaders who can restore basic services and confront corruption.
- The local government elections are scheduled for November 4, 2026, and will determine the composition of municipal councils across the country.
- Ramaphosa has declared November 4 a public holiday to allow registered voters to participate in the elections.
