JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the November Local Government Elections approach, the African National Congress (ANC) service delivery strategy has taken center stage, with party officials putting housing, water, and electricity under the spotlight to win back voter trust. With municipal polls looming, addressing these fundamental infrastructure and utility challenges remains a top priority for the ruling party as they seek to reassure a concerned electorate.
Speaking from the party’s headquarters at Luthuli House, ANC spokespersons and officials outlined a comprehensive progress report aimed at tackling the country’s most pressing service delivery grievances. The briefing comes at a critical juncture where basic utility access continues to heavily influence voter sentiment and shape the landscape of local coalition politics.
Water Infrastructure and Supply Challenges
Water security remains a volatile issue, with numerous protests erupting this year over severe outages. Bulk supplier Rand Water has attributed these shortages to aging infrastructure and a rapidly growing population. Critics have argued that the government failed to adequately plan for demographic shifts, leading to neglected infrastructure.
In response, ANC spokespersons highlighted recent government interventions, including an escalated national water plan launched by the president last month in Hammanskraal and other provinces. The party is also providing updates on delayed infrastructure initiatives, including stalled reservoir projects, to assure residents that long-term water supply solutions are actively being managed.
Electricity Tariffs and Grid Stability
While the country has recently experienced a reprieve from national load shedding, localized power cuts continue to plague various provinces, sparking ongoing protests particularly in southern regions.
The briefing also addressed the financial strain on consumers following electricity tariff hikes implemented in July. Furthermore, party officials are unpacking the ongoing unbundling of the national power utility and the proposed shift toward private ownership. Acknowledging public concern, the ANC noted the need to carefully manage privatization to ensure it does not disproportionately burden lower-income households.
Tackling the Housing Backlog
Housing remains another critical pillar of the ANC’s municipal pitch. The country currently faces a staggering backlog of 2.6 million housing units, leaving millions of South Africans waiting for formal homes and title deeds. Additionally, approximately 4,000 informal settlements still exist across the nation. The Minister of Human Settlements is scheduled to provide detailed briefings on how the government intends to close this gap and accelerate property ownership.
Navigating a Shifting Political Landscape
Beyond infrastructure, the ANC service delivery briefing also serves to address the party’s political standing. The ruling party’s electoral support has seen a notable trajectory shift, dropping to just under 54% in 2016 and falling further to 45.6% in the 2021 municipal elections—its lowest performance since 1994.
This decline has fundamentally altered local governance, resulting in hung councils and a rise in coalition administrations. Despite the current political reality, both the ANC and the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), have maintained vocal stances against participating in local coalitions, with both parties expressing a strong preference for outright majorities. This dynamic persists even as both parties currently collaborate at the national level within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Ultimately, the ANC’s focus remains clear: leverage tangible improvements in housing, water, and electricity to reverse recent electoral trends and secure a decisive mandate in the upcoming November polls.