LIMPOPO, South Africa — Municipalities remain the first point of call for providing basic services that directly affect the quality of daily life, including water, sanitation, and electricity. Yet, more than three decades into South Africa’s democracy, accessing these fundamental services remains a severe challenge for many communities. Ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), residents across Limpopo are voicing deep frustration over unfulfilled promises and deteriorating infrastructure.
In areas such as Mageva, which falls under the Greater Giyani Local Municipality,, running water has been a persistent challenge for years. For a local resident accessing water is not merely a service delivery issue; it is a matter of safety and dignity. Women from different villages are frequently found relying on a shrinking river as their primary water source, using it for everything from drinking to doing laundry.
This reality persists despite the Giyani bulk water project, which was launched over a decade ago to bring reliable water to the region. Billions of rands have been committed to water infrastructure in and around Giyani, yet the expected improvements have largely failed to materialize on the ground.
A community leader in the area highlighted that residents have been struggling without reliable water for 10 to 15 years. Despite repeated assurances from authorities that contracts were in place to fix broken pipes, the situation remains dire. Residents are forced to walk long distances to fetch water from the river or purchase it from private boreholes. Even in yards where new taps have been installed, not a single drop of water flows.
Another local resident, emphasized that municipal water tankers are a rare sight. He noted that he has not heard of a water tanker visiting the area since January, warning that political candidates will face a serious challenge at the ballot box. Voters, he explained, have “opened their eyes” to a cycle of empty promises made before elections, only to be ignored for the subsequent five-year term.
The service delivery crisis is not unique to the Greater Giyani municipality. In the Vhembe District Municipality, a village called Duthuni highlights the stark reality of infrastructure neglect, with a local water source doubling as a daytime laundry facility and an evening car wash. Residents report that roads are in poor condition, riddled with potholes, and the situation is even worse in rural areas. Shockingly, villages surrounding the Nandoni Dam remain without access to water, despite their immediate proximity to the massive water body. This widespread failure in basic service provision is expected to massively influence voting behavior, particularly among the youth.
Professor Harry Munzhedzi, Head of Development and Public Administration at the University of Venda, provided political context to the growing discontent. While the African National Congress (ANC) secured a dominant 73% victory in the 2024 national elections, Professor Mui suggests that the party’s grip on Limpopo may weaken in the upcoming local elections.
He noted that the ANC’s support is expected to decline as alternative political parties, including ActionSA, Afrika Mayibuye Movement, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), increasingly eat into its traditional voter base.
According to Professor Munzhedzi, the key for any political party hoping to maintain relevance will be to genuinely listen to voters when fielding councilor candidates. Most importantly, he stressed that political leaders must not forget the people they serve once the elections are over, as the demand for basic human dignity and reliable service delivery will no longer be ignored.