JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The African National Congress (ANC) has officially unveiled its ANC Local Government Elections manifesto, centering its campaign on a comprehensive overhaul of service delivery and municipal governance ahead of the critical November polls. During the high-profile launch, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa candidly acknowledged the party’s historical shortcomings, setting the stage for key alliance partners to detail how they plan to support, scrutinize, and monitor these renewed commitments.
In a notably frank address, the ANC leadership accepted full responsibility for the deteriorating state of local governance. Ramaphosa highlighted that in numerous municipalities, residents endure unreliable services, crumbling infrastructure, and excessive delays in problem resolution. The manifesto specifically cited unmaintained water treatment facilities, aging and decaying water pipelines, persistent and unattended sewage spills, broken streetlights, and uncollected refuse. Furthermore, the party admitted that many local governments have been severely weakened by financial distress, political instability, poor leadership, corruption, and the appointment of unskilled personnel.
To counter these documented failures, the newly launched manifesto pledges immediate corrective action. The party’s primary objective is to guarantee that affordable, reliable, and accessible basic services are restored. The ANC committed to ensuring that every South African community receives clean water, dignified sanitation, consistent electricity, properly maintained roads, regular waste removal, and foundational infrastructure that supports a decent standard of living.
Following the launch, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks provided insight into the labor federation’s electoral posture. Parks confirmed that while COSATU maintains a standing resolution to back the ANC, the final mandate will be determined by its membership at a national congress scheduled in the coming weeks. He characterized this internal deliberation as a healthy, democratic process inherent to a worker-controlled organization representing 1.5 million members, including nurses, police officers, and farmworkers. Parks also acknowledged that the political landscape has become more complex due to the South African Communist Party (SACP) deciding to contest the elections independently. Nevertheless, he stressed that COSATU’s ultimate priority is preserving alliance unity to continue fighting unemployment, poverty, inequality, and corruption, building on historical victories like the 2019 National Minimum Wage and progressive labor protections.
Echoing a commitment to the alliance, SANCO spokesperson Mzukisi Jam affirmed the civic movement’s unequivocal decision to campaign for the ANC. Jam described the current state of municipal service delivery as a “quagmire,” but noted that the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) reinforced SANCO’s view that no alternative political party offers a superior policy framework. He argued that competing parties are often purely oppositional, corrupt, or racially divisive, whereas the ANC’s foundational policies remain the most viable path for addressing community needs.
Jam emphasized that SANCO was actively involved in drafting the manifesto and will hold the party accountable for its implementation. He highlighted a significant procedural shift in the ANC’s candidate selection process: communities will now have a decisive say in the nomination of ward councillors. This measure is designed to prevent the rise of self-enriching representatives and ensure local accountability. While expressing hope that the current “cold war” between the ANC and the SACP can be resolved, Jam reiterated that SANCO respects organizational autonomy and remains focused on the practical work of fixing local municipalities.
Both spokespersons concluded that despite current political friction, the tripartite alliance remains indispensable. They argued that the partnership is essential not just for navigating the upcoming election cycle, but for the long-term, arduous work of stabilizing the state, creating sustainable jobs, and eradicating corruption in South Africa’s local governments.
