By Charles Molele
The ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) has resolved to address the challenges facing local government and municipalities, prioritising improved service delivery and infrastructure.
Speaking at the ANC January 8 Statement rally held at the Mandela Park stadium in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined the urgent need to restore functionality to local government structures.
The ANC is marking its 113th anniversary with a scaled-down celebration, transforming a 2,000-seater arena into a venue for over 20,000 supporters from across the city.
“The ANC NEC recognises the need to fix local government and ensure effective service delivery, particularly in areas such as water and energy security,” said Ramaphosa.
“We need to fix local government, ensuring our municipalities are functioning properly, we have figured that our municipalities are not performing at their best in service delivery, water and energy security.”
He applauded government and Eskom on the progress made in resolving the energy crisis.
“In 2024, we committed to ending load-shedding, improving basic services, and upgrading infrastructure in homes, businesses, and educational institutions. South Africans have now experienced nearly 300 days without load-shedding, and we thank the ANC-led government for making this possible,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said that the improvement in energy supply has positively impacted the economy and quality of life and commended the government and Eskom’s management for their efforts in ending load-shedding.
“While we celebrate this progress, we also recognies the need for sustainable, long-term energy security,” he added.
However, Ramaphosa acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in underserved communities and townships still affected by water supply issues.
“The water crisis is a national emergency,” Ramaphosa said.
“The ANC NEC has prioritised water as a key focus area. We must embark on various initiatives because water is life, and sanitation represents dignity.”
He referred to Pemmy Majodina’s commitment to ensuring the delivery of water and sanitation.
“She said recently, ‘I have not been appointed as the Minister of Water and Sanitation. I have been appointed as the Minister of Life and Dignity.’ We support her vision wholeheartedly because water is dignity,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa announced that water infrastructure would be elevated as the next critical issue following progress on electricity.
“The ANC calls on the government to strengthen water boards, address shortages, and upgrade ageing infrastructure. Law enforcement agencies must also tackle sabotage, theft, and the so-called ‘water mafia’ hindering our progress. Additionally, informal settlements must be formalised to enable access to water services,” he said.
The president also stressed the importance of registering indigent households to ensure they benefit from government assistance and support.
“These efforts will help us build a more inclusive and dignified society where basic services are accessible to all,” he said.
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