JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As South Africa heads toward its local government elections, the focus is increasingly shifting to civil society and local government accountability. Leading voices Dr. Ferrial Adam of WaterCan and community organiser Dr. Trevor Ngwane emphasize that meaningful change in service delivery requires active citizenry, urging communities to move beyond a “messiah mentality” and hold municipal leaders directly responsible for ongoing water and electricity crises.
With the November 4 elections approaching, the conversation around community participation has become central to the democratic process. Dr. Adam notes that while civic engagement is a “mixed bag,” the persistent inaction of local government and the deteriorating state of municipalities are driving more residents to group together and find grassroots solutions. This shift follows the precedent of the 2021 local government elections, where voters punished the ANC over poor service delivery, dropping its vote share to below 50%.
However, a deep sense of demoralization remains. Dr. Ngwane points out that many communities are losing hope that elected officials will improve their lives. He cited a 30- to 34-year pattern of political parties and individual councilors focusing on self-enrichment and keeping the masses at bay to abuse public funds. Furthermore, he warned that independent candidates or smaller parties often lack the structural power to change policy or risk being co-opted, as seen in the current Government of National Unity, which has diluted the radicalism of opposition parties.
A core issue identified by both experts is the broken municipal financial model. Dr. Ngwane highlighted that municipalities increasingly treat electricity as a “cash cow” to generate revenue rather than providing it as a basic service to the poor, necessitating urgent structural and policy changes.
Moving Beyond the Messiah Mentality
Dr. Adam stressed that democracy extends far beyond casting a ballot. With 144 water service authorities failing across the country, she argued that citizens must actively monitor municipal decisions and budgets. She pointed to Johannesburg as a promising example of collaborative governance, where government, business, civil society, and labor work together to track municipal commitments, such as reservoir construction timelines, and hold officials accountable.
Dr. Ngwane agreed, warning against misdirected citizenship, such as xenophobic violence, and calling for a resuscitation of the belief that ordinary people are the drivers of history. He outlined practical mechanisms for communities to exert control over public representatives: requiring signed pledges before taking office, establishing a right of recall, mandating community report-backs, and ensuring that representatives’ salaries are tied to community funds rather than personal enrichment.
Navigating Spheres of Government
When addressing service delivery failures, Dr. Adam clarified the division of responsibilities. The national government, specifically the Department of Water and Sanitation, handles bulk water supply and issues like river pollution. In contrast, local municipalities are responsible for direct service delivery, such as fixing burst pipes and ensuring flowing taps.
While this legal distinction is clear, Dr. Adam noted it has contributed to systemic deterioration, as national government has been hesitant to intervene forcefully in municipal affairs. Although the Department of Water and Sanitation has recently laid criminal charges against more than 50 municipalities for ongoing pollution, it lacks the authority to remove a mayor or fire local officials, creating significant frustration for affected communities.
The Myth of Going “Off-Grid”
The discussion also addressed the diverging realities of electricity and water access. Dr. Ngwane criticized Eskom’s restructuring along privatization, commercialization, and financialization lines. He noted that while the wealthy migrate to privatized solar systems during load shedding, the poor remain trapped relying on dirty coal-powered energy, underscoring the urgent need for a just energy transition that does not leave the working class behind.
Dr. Adam added that the concept of going “off-grid” for water is largely a myth. Even households with boreholes still rely on municipal systems for wastewater and stormwater management. This disconnect has exacerbated inequality, leaving vulnerable communities dependent on unclean water tankers and fueling the rise of a “borehole drilling mafia” as the private sector capitalizes on the demand.
A Call for Comprehensive Just Transition
In their closing thoughts, both experts issued a clear call to action for frustrated citizens. Dr. Ngwane urged communities to unite around the demand for clean, reliable, affordable, and equitable energy for all. He advocated for block tariffs that subsidize the poor with a free basic lifeline, while heavier users, such as large mines, subsidize the system.
Dr. Adam concluded by reaffirming that access to clean water is a basic human right, stating that it is unacceptable for any South African to have dirty or no water in their taps. She echoed Dr. Ngwane’s sentiment, expanding the vision beyond energy to advocate for a comprehensive “just transition” across all interconnected public services, including transport, food, roads, and electricity. Ultimately, both spokespersons agreed that local government will only function effectively when communities consistently show up and demand accountability beyond the ballot box.
