By Thapelo Molefe
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans frustrated by years of poor service delivery to assess his party on what he described as recent progress in infrastructure, water and electricity projects, as campaigning intensifies ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
Speaking during the ANC’s voter registration campaign in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, on Sunday, Ramaphosa acknowledged widespread dissatisfaction over service delivery failures but said government was beginning to deliver tangible improvements across several sectors.
“I would say to a person who has been discouraged in the past because of failures of service delivery that they should look at the new developments,” Ramaphosa said.
He said government had begun rolling out major infrastructure projects following its commitment earlier this year to invest R1 trillion in infrastructure.
“Major water projects are now underway in various parts of the country. Water is beginning to be delivered even in villages, and in urban areas we’re solving the problems of reservoirs and reticulation,” he said.
Ramaphosa also cited improvements in the electricity sector, saying government was addressing power shortages while intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining and corruption.
“On the electricity side we’re solving those problems. We are ridding our country of illegal mining, corruption is now being addressed and corrupt police are being dealt with. All in all, things are beginning to move forward,” he said.
He said the 4 November local government elections would take place against the backdrop of a gradually improving economy.
“The economy is beginning to pick up and we’re beginning to see more and more jobs being created. All the indicators are telling us that we are moving forward, so we’re not stagnant and we’re not stuck in one place,” Ramaphosa said.
He urged eligible South Africans to participate in the elections and help determine who would govern municipalities over the next five years.
Ramaphosa also welcomed the growing number of political parties contesting the elections, saying increased competition would expand voter choice and strengthen South Africa’s democracy.
“The number of parties that are going to participate is a good thing because it gives people more choice. It should never be seen in a negative light. It should be seen as being positive,” he said.
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