Johannesburg – As Gauteng municipalities face heightened scrutiny ahead of the upcoming local government elections, the provincial government has outlined advancements in addressing service delivery challenges across the province.
COGTA MEC Jacob Mamabolo, together with Mayoral Committee Members (MMCs) from all 11 municipalities in Gauteng, briefed the media on the implementation of the Local Government Turnaround Strategy. The province indicated that improvements are already visible in governance, infrastructure management, crime reduction efforts, and the filling of key senior positions, as residents continue to demand greater accountability.
The briefing served both as an update on progress and a networking session among the MMCs.
The Turnaround Strategy aims to transform Gauteng into a “smart city region.” President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the vision in 2020, with the strategy formally adopted in 2021. According to the briefing, the initiative focuses on deploying smart technologies and data-driven solutions to enhance service delivery.
Key elements include enabling residents to better track progress on essential services such as water and sanitation. Another major focus is improving communication between residents and emergency services, including ambulances and the South African Police Service (SAPS), amid ongoing complaints about disconnects in these critical areas.
MEC Jacob Mamabolo and the municipal leaders are tracking how far the 11 municipalities have advanced toward establishing this smart city region, where technology plays a central role in governance and public service responsiveness.
