Ekurhuleni:President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a strong call for reforms in local government to end politically motivated appointments, inadequate accountability, and factional conflicts in municipalities. He emphasized that South Africans should not have to endure substandard services due to dysfunctional local administrations and political instability.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa addressed the launch of the Revised White Paper on Local Government in Ekurhuleni, advocating for competent administration, ethical political leadership, and effective oversight to restore public trust in local governance. The revised policy proposes significant changes aimed at professionalizing municipal management, strengthening financial controls, and enhancing community participation.
The President highlighted that many municipalities are failing to meet community needs due to unreliable services, deteriorating infrastructure, and unresponsive administrations. He acknowledged that weaknesses in the original design of the democratic local government system, such as politicized appointments, have led to corruption and lack of accountability. The revised policy seeks to address these issues by clarifying the responsibilities of political leaders and professional officials and ensuring accountability for performance.
Furthermore, the President stressed the importance of service delivery in shaping the relationship between municipalities and residents. He noted that persistent service failures undermine public confidence in government and stressed the need for responsive municipal administrations. The revised policy aims to ensure that complaints are addressed, and public participation influences decision-making.
The financial state of municipalities was also a concern, with the President noting their unsustainable finances and poor infrastructure maintenance. He called for stronger financial management and responsible revenue use, particularly for maintaining essential services infrastructure. President Ramaphosa also advocated for collaboration between different levels of government to ensure alignment in investment and service delivery priorities.
The Revised White Paper proposes a differentiated approach to municipal powers and functions, considering the varying capacities and resources of municipalities. Legislative changes and new institutional capabilities may be required to implement the reforms, which have been endorsed by Cabinet for phased implementation.
As the Local Government Elections approach, President Ramaphosa urged voters to participate and reminded political parties of their responsibilities to communities. He emphasized that local government reform should transcend electoral cycles and called for immediate action to translate policy into practical improvements, aiming to build a capable, developmental, and democratic State that earns public trust.