Rustenburg, a major economic hub in the North West province of South Africa, is set to be one of the most closely contested municipalities in the upcoming local government elections. According to Prof André Duvenhage, a political analyst from North-West University, the municipality's economic significance makes it a crucial battleground. Duvenhage noted that Rustenburg's economic prospects are being threatened by instability in the mining industry and South Africa's strained economic and financial position.
Duvenhage warned that municipalities such as Rustenburg face significant challenges, including sluggish economic growth, poor service delivery, and deteriorating infrastructure. He cited the failure to create sustained economic growth and development as one of the biggest challenges, with growth remaining below 1% over the past decade. This has led to businesses leaving areas with poor service delivery and relocating to regions with more reliable infrastructure and municipal services.
The municipality's economic significance was highlighted by Ofentse Kombe, a candidate for mayor from ActionSA. Kombe described Rustenburg as "the heartbeat of the North West," noting that when Rustenburg works, the province works. He emphasized that poor service delivery discourages investment, and without investment, there can be no meaningful job creation. Kombe's priorities include tackling irregular expenditure and service delivery failures, which he believes have resulted in unnecessary duplication and wastage of taxpayer money.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) candidate, Israel Monaise, has also outlined his party's priorities for Rustenburg. Monaise said the EFF would focus on improving service delivery response times and strengthening water infrastructure. He also plans to introduce a digital reporting portal that would allow residents to log service delivery complaints and track municipal responses. Additionally, Monaise called for greater benefits for communities living near mining operations, which he believes have contributed significantly to the country's economy.
The African National Congress (ANC) candidate, Wendy Matsemela, has also laid out her vision for Rustenburg. Should she win the mayorship, Matsemela plans to engage national government on introducing a haulage grant to help repair roads affected by heavy trucks traveling to and from mining operations. Her party's priorities would include improving the delivery of basic services, including water, sanitation, electricity, and roads. Matsemela emphasized that local government is the sphere of government closest to communities and that she would have a responsibility to ensure residents receive services efficiently.
According to Duvenhage, Rustenburg is likely to remain a closely contested municipality due to growing dissatisfaction with service delivery and the influence of opposition parties. He noted that there is significant resistance to the ANC in Rustenburg, with the EFF and labour-aligned groupings having a strong presence and remaining critical of the governing party. As a result, it may be difficult for the ANC to secure an outright majority in Rustenburg.
Duvenhage urged voters to focus less on political rhetoric and more on which party has the capacity to deliver basic services and stimulate economic growth. He emphasized that people should prioritize service delivery, stability, economic growth, and job creation, and vote for a party that can create an environment where businesses can thrive, investments can be attracted, and jobs can be created. With only 36% of voters casting ballots in the 2021 local government elections, Kombe urged residents to participate in the elections, noting that they can fundamentally change the direction of governance in Rustenburg.
Key points
- Rustenburg's economic significance makes it a crucial municipality to watch in South Africa's local government elections.
- The municipality faces significant challenges, including sluggish economic growth, poor service delivery, and deteriorating infrastructure.
- Several parties, including ActionSA, the EFF, and the ANC, are vying for control of the municipality.
