JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the 2026 municipal elections approach, Johannesburg service delivery remains a central talking point for residents, political observers, and civic leaders. Over the past decade, the City of Johannesburg has navigated a complex era of coalition governments, raising critical questions about financial accountability, municipal oversight, and the everyday living conditions of its citizens.
The year 2016 marked a political turning point for the metro when the African National Congress (ANC) lost its outright majority. This shift ushered in an era of coalition politics, forcing the city to be governed by alliances, as no single party has been able to secure a majority on its own since. While this introduced new power dynamics, it also brought significant governance challenges.
Over the years, Auditor-General reports have frequently flagged concerns regarding irregular expenditure, unspent grants, and weaknesses in municipal oversight. The financial accountability of the city has seen a fluctuating trajectory over the last decade:
- 2017/2018: The city received an unqualified audit opinion, though this was accompanied by declining financial reserves.
- 2018/2019: Irregular expenditure escalated significantly.
- 2019/2020: Audit outcomes across various municipal entities deteriorated.
- 2020/2021 & 2021/2022: The city returned to receiving unqualified audit opinions.
- 2023/2024: Another unqualified audit opinion was recorded.
- 2025/2026: The latest figures indicate a shift back to a qualified audit outcome, raising renewed questions about financial oversight.
These shifting audit outcomes mirror the mixed experiences of the city’s residents, who remain deeply divided on the state of local governance.
One local resident noted that while service delivery was relatively stable up until 2016, a sharp decline began around 2019, exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Following the second coalition elections, the resident described a scenario where municipal services essentially “fell apart,” pointing to rising unemployment and visible youth idleness as indicators of the city’s struggles.
Conversely, other residents push back against the overwhelmingly negative narratives, suggesting that the reality on the ground is more nuanced. A resident frequenting the 44 Stanley area noted that national comparisons often make the city sound worse than it actually is. Highlighting improvements in infrastructure like street lights, this resident described their local environment as peaceful, safe, and welcoming, emphasizing that positive community experiences still exist within the metro.
The political landscape that shapes these service delivery outcomes was firmly established during the 2021 local government elections, which delivered a highly fragmented council. The results showed the ANC securing 33.6% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) at 26.14%, ActionSA at 16.05%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) at 10.63%. With no outright majority, coalition negotiations once again dictated the city’s leadership.
Compounding the governance challenges was a significant drop in voter engagement, with turnout falling from 57% in 2016 to just 42% in 2021.
Looking ahead to the 2026 local government elections, experts believe that coalition politics will remain a defining feature of the city’s governance. A political analyst noted that as South Africa’s democracy matures and voters are increasingly “spoiled with choices,” fragmented councils are likely to become the norm. Regarding the upcoming elections in Johannesburg, the analyst predicted that while another coalition is highly likely, it will operate under a “different dimension” as new political parties step into the ring to contest for power.
As the clock ticks closer to the 2026 polls, the mood in the city remains a complex mix of agitation over service delivery and anticipation for the future. With many residents still aggrieved by the city’s performance, the impending arrival of new political contenders ensures that the battle for Johannesburg’s governance will be fiercely contested.
