Kealeboga Maphunye is an independent researcher and consultant specialising in democracy, elections and governance. Image: Supplied
Water Crisis
Poor service delivery takes centre stage ahead of 2026 local government elections
Water shortages, power cuts, poor sanitation and crumbling infrastructure remain major challenges in many South African municipalities. Independent researcher Professor Kealeboga Maphunye warns that poor leadership, corruption and a lack of accountability continue to undermine local government.
Poor service delivery is likely to be one of the major issues influencing voters ahead of South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections, with many communities still struggling with water shortages, electricity cut-offs, poor sanitation, pothole-ridden roads and sewage running through streets and polluting rivers.
More than two decades after the first democratic municipal elections in 2000, many municipalities continue to battle with the same problems. Residents are still asking why access to basic services remains such a challenge despite years of promises by political parties and successive municipal administrations.
Professor Kealeboga Maphunye, an independent researcher, says South Africa’s local government has struggled to deliver satisfactory services since the first municipal elections.
He acknowledges that some of the initial problems were understandable, given the legacy of apartheid’s unequal development and racial planning policies. However, he says the continued failure to address these problems points to serious weaknesses in the way municipalities are run.
Among the main problems are poor leadership, officials who are not held accountable, politically motivated appointments, limited municipal funds and a lack of capacity to carry out basic responsibilities.
Maphunye also points to councillors who fail to report back to residents and deal with problems raised in their wards. Unethical conduct and poor administration have further weakened municipalities’ ability to provide services effectively.
Residents losing patience
The growing frustration is increasingly visible through community protests and threats by residents not to vote.
Maphunye describes this as conditional voter apathy, where residents say they will not participate in elections until their service delivery complaints are addressed.
For many communities, the frustration goes beyond a lack of water, electricity or proper roads. It is also about feeling ignored by the very people elected to represent them.
He warns that this growing dissatisfaction alienates citizens, weakens the legitimacy of elected municipalities and creates anger towards a political system that many South Africans fought hard to establish and transform.
Corruption making matters worse
The problems are made worse by wasteful and fruitless expenditure, financial mismanagement, tender corruption and the activities of criminal groups commonly known as the ‘water tanker mafia’ and ‘construction mafia’.
Weak action against those responsible for wrongdoing has also allowed these problems to continue. The killing of local councillors adds to the difficulties facing municipalities, raising further concerns about safety, political tensions and the ability of local government to function properly.
According to Maphunye, these problems threaten the survival of municipalities and could discourage residents from voting in some areas.
Promises will not be enough
With the 2026 local government elections approaching, political parties will have to account for their performance in municipalities and explain what they intend to do differently.
Residents are likely to look beyond election promises and ask why problems that have existed for years remain unresolved. Maphunye argues that South Africa needs a complete overhaul of its municipal system rather than small, piecemeal changes.
He says this will require political will to deal with poor service delivery, corruption, weak administration and the failure to hold those responsible accountable.
The challenge is not simply to promise better services during election campaigns, but to ensure that municipalities have the leadership, skills, resources and commitment to deliver.
For residents who have spent years living with leaking pipes, dry taps, overflowing sewage and broken roads, the question remains: how much longer must they wait?
As voters prepare to make their choices in 2026, local government may once again find itself singing the same old song, with communities demanding answers and tangible results rather than more promises.
