Following the recall of Emfuleni’s mayor, the Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate has pointed to systemic governance failure as the root cause of the municipality’s ongoing service delivery breakdown.
The candidate stated that the recall of Mayor Sipho Radebe underscores deep-seated dysfunction within the local authority. While the ANC has publicly welcomed the leadership change as a move to accelerate service delivery, it has denied claims that the decision was influenced by its recent by-election defeat to the DA in Ward 23.
According to the DA representative, the municipality’s decline is not attributable to a single administration. “The rot did not start with [this] mayor,” they asserted, emphasizing that governance challenges have spanned more than twenty years and multiple leadership tenures. They cited reports that senior ANC figures admitted in late 2023 that the party lacked both the capacity and innovative solutions needed to reverse Emfuleni’s deterioration.
The candidate noted that the ANC secured less than 40% of the vote in recent elections, prompting a coalition government formed with parties including the EFF, Patriotic Alliance, Solidarity, and the Horizon Movement—all of which campaigned on removing the ANC from power. They argued that without structural reform, rotating mayoral appointments would not resolve the underlying crisis.
Residents continue to face severe service delivery failures: roads riddled with potholes, refuse collection delays, and prolonged electricity outages affecting entire neighborhoods. “This municipality has been limping from one disaster to another,” the candidate said. They referenced the 2018 election—when voters first ousted the ANC—as an early warning of public dissatisfaction, a sentiment they say was reaffirmed by recent by-election outcomes in Ward 28.
The DA spokesperson also highlighted unresolved anti-corruption efforts. They stated that the former mayor had formally requested the President authorize a Special Investigating Unit probe into alleged corruption within Emfuleni—a proposal they claim received no backing from ANC leadership. They further alleged that internal party factions remain prioritized over community needs.
When asked whether opposition parties bear partial responsibility for the municipality’s challenges, the candidate rejected the suggestion. They outlined the DA’s sustained advocacy efforts, including interventions at the National Council of Provinces, the National Assembly, and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature; submissions to law enforcement bodies; and formal complaints to the South African Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector regarding unconstitutional service failures.
Frustration was expressed over perceived delays by Chapter 9 institutions in addressing lodged complaints. The candidate cited the Moscow informal settlement matter as an example where follow-up feedback remained pending despite repeated inquiries. They stressed that communities such as Hollywood continue to endure substandard living conditions more than three decades after the advent of democracy in South Africa.
With local elections scheduled for November 4, the DA mayoral candidate reiterated that Emfuleni’s residents deserve a functional, accountable municipality that “delivers for everyone.” They concluded that without decisive action to depoliticize governance and prioritize service delivery, the cycle of decline is likely to continue.