 has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to prioritise implementation, funding reform and accountability in his 2026 State of the Nation Address.){kind=link}
By Thapelo Molefe
Amid persistent service delivery failures and crumbling municipal infrastructure, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to prioritise implementation, funding reform and accountability in his 2026 State of the Nation Address.
In a statement issued on Tuesday ahead of the President’s address scheduled for Thursday, SALGA said the country’s municipalities are under growing pressure to translate long-standing policy commitments into tangible improvements for communities.
ALSO READ: DA names Werner Pretorius as Mangaung mayoral candidate, slams ‘failed metro’
As South Africa marks 30 years of organised local government and the Constitution, SALGA said the milestone should prompt a renewed focus on the role of municipalities as drivers of development and the frontline of service delivery.
The association said it expects the 2026 State of the Nation Address to reaffirm local government’s central role in national development while demonstrating measurable progress on reforms announced in previous addresses.
These include the professionalisation of local government, the review of the local government funding model and the institutionalisation of the District Development Model.
SALGA warned that while access to basic services has expanded since the advent of democracy, deep rooted challenges continue to erode public trust in municipalities. Infrastructure backlogs, high unemployment, governance weaknesses and shrinking municipal revenue bases remain persistent obstacles to effective service delivery.
According to SALGA, the upcoming address must place service delivery and governance reforms at the centre of government’s agenda, with a particular focus on infrastructure investment and maintenance.
ALSO READ: NUSA demands accountability after Nigerian national shot more than 12 times in Randburg
“This SONA must reaffirm the importance of investing in critical infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, thus ensuring stable water supply, reliable electricity, proper sanitation and well maintained roads,” the association said.
SALGA further called for clear and actionable steps to professionalise the local government sector, strengthen oversight mechanisms and decisively address maladministration at municipal level.
The association has repeatedly raised concerns about skills shortages, political instability and weak financial management in municipalities, which it says undermine development and economic growth.
Describing municipalities as the engines of inclusive growth, SALGA said effective local government is essential for economic recovery and improved living conditions.
“With 30 years of local government experience to draw from, 2026 should be a turning point that reinforces cooperative governance, underscoring that economic growth and development depend on effective municipalities,” the statement read.
A key issue highlighted by SALGA is the financial sustainability of local government. The association reiterated its call for a more equitable and adequate fiscal framework to enable municipalities to meet their constitutional obligations.
SALGA said enhancements in funding and revenue management, supported by all three spheres of government, are critical if municipalities are to play a catalytic role in driving development at local level.
SALGA President Bheki Stofile said communities are increasingly impatient for results and expect government to deliver on commitments already made.
“Communities expect to see results from the previous commitments made by the 7th Administration. This year’s address needs to go beyond diagnosis and deliver a clear roadmap for implementation, including funding commitments,” Stofile said.
ALSO READ: One killed, three injured in lightning strikes as storms rip through KZN
He added that local government is ready to work with national and provincial counterparts to ensure that policies translate into visible improvements in people’s daily lives.
“Local government is ready to partner with national and provincial counterparts to turn policy into progress,” Stofile said.
SALGA confirmed that its delegation to the 2026 State of the Nation Address will be led by the SALGA Presidency, supported by working group chairpersons, a representative from the National Council of Provinces and the SALGA chief executive officer.
The delegation is expected to present a unified local government voice on the priorities and challenges facing municipalities.
The association said it remains committed to working with all spheres of government to ensure that commitments made during the State of the Nation Address result in improved governance, strengthened municipal capacity and reliable service delivery.
SALGA stressed that without decisive action to support municipalities, national development goals and economic growth targets would remain out of reach, as local government remains the sphere closest to communities and most directly responsible for improving quality of life.
INSIDE METROS