eMalahleni, Mpumalanga — As South Africa approaches the final hours of voter registration for the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is urging citizens to look past historical service delivery frustrations. Speaking to the media during a registration drive, Ramaphosa emphasized that sweeping structural reforms and a massive infrastructure rollout prove the nation is advancing, insisting that people should recognise that positive progress is taking place in SA under the current administration.
Dismissing narratives of voter apathy, Ramaphosa described a robust “civic mood” across the country as residents rush to update their details before voting stations close this weekend. With the November 4 polls looming, the focus has shifted from past grievances to a forward-looking agenda anchored by economic stabilization and tangible service delivery improvements.
A 1 Trillion Rand Infrastructure and Water Revolution
Addressing the frustrations of communities still grappling with water shortages and refuse collection backlogs, the ANC President acknowledged that severe challenges remain. However, he pivoted to highlight a 1 trillion rand infrastructure deployment that is now actively flowing into the economy.
Ramaphosa noted that the government recently launched 67 distinct water projects across the nation. These include mega-projects designed to service both metropolitan hubs and historically neglected rural villages. According to the President, water is already reaching community sidewalks, with urban reservoir reticulation fixes and direct rural home deliveries currently in the pipeline.
Beyond utilities, the administration is aggressively tackling systemic issues, including illegal mining and entrenched police corruption. Ramaphosa described the current economic climate as one where early “green shoots” are maturing into robust growth, driven by targeted reforms in logistics, road construction, and production—metrics that are increasingly drawing praise from global rating agencies and financial institutions.
Energy Stability and the Eskom “Privatization” Myth
A cornerstone of the government’s recent success is the stabilization of the national power grid. Ramaphosa celebrated a milestone of over 400 days without load shedding, while noting that the Minister of Electricity and Energy is actively resolving localized “load reduction” bottlenecks.
He also used the platform to vehemently deny claims that the unbundling of Eskom and the establishment of a new transmission entity amount to the privatization of the state utility. Clarifying the government’s stance, Ramaphosa confirmed that the state will retain absolute ownership of Eskom and the national grid, which includes an ambitious plan to construct 14,000 kilometers of new state-owned transmission lines.
The introduction of private energy producers, he explained, is strictly a mechanism to introduce market competition and drive down tariffs. To illustrate the point, Ramaphosa drew a historical parallel to the telecommunications sector. He noted that ending the state telecom monopoly by welcoming competitors like Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and Rain resulted in plummeting prices and a massive 150% surge in network penetration.
“Those who talk about privatization are lying to the public,” Ramaphosa stated, emphasizing that South Africa operates as a mixed economy where public and private investments coexist to expand public goods.
Safeguarding the PIC and Catalyzing Local Economies
Financial stewardship was also a key topic, particularly regarding the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). As Africa’s largest asset manager, the PIC oversees approximately 3.6 trillion rand—nearly half of South Africa’s GDP and the pension funds of teachers, parliamentarians, and civil servants.
Following the appointment of a new PIC chairperson to implement governance recommendations from a recent commission, Ramaphosa assured the public and the markets that there is no institutional crisis. Instead, the intervention has been applauded by financial markets as a decisive move to solidify stability and correct past misalignments.
On a localized level, the President highlighted the economic ripple effects of green energy investments. He pointed to a newly launched, black-owned and managed wind energy facility serving the towns of Bethal, Davel, and Morgenson. The project is already stimulating local job creation and fostering youth- and women-led SMMEs in areas previously starved of major economic development.
Ramaphosa also teased an upcoming infrastructure milestone, inviting the media to Middelburg this Tuesday for the official launch of a new hospital, where comprehensive details regarding the facility’s expenditure and job creation metrics will be unveiled.
Finalizing the 2026 Voters Roll
As the weekend registration window shuts, the administrative machinery for the 2026 Local Government Elections is moving into its final phase.
In Durban, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs—who concurrently serves as the President of the Inkatha Freedom Party—is scheduled to sign the official election proclamation for November 4. This vital legal step will empower the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to officially close and certify the national voters roll, setting the stage for a highly competitive municipal ballot that Ramaphosa views as a hallmark of a maturing, stable democracy.
“We are not standing in one place. We are not stagnant,” Ramaphosa concluded. “We are moving forward.”
