PAARL, WESTERN CAPE — As the 2026 local elections approach, Drakenstein Municipality service delivery has become a central focus for nearly 147,000 registered voters in the Cape Winelands. While the Democratic Alliance (DA), which governs the Paarl-based council, frequently highlights its record of good governance and excellent service delivery, residents on the ground are urging the local authority to address persistent housing, water, and infrastructure challenges.
In the 2021 local government elections, the DA secured the majority of the votes, followed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Good Party. Now, as voters prepare to head to the polls on November 4, 2026, community members are evaluating the council’s performance and identifying key areas that require urgent improvement.
In Smarty Town, a local resident notes that the municipality has adequately provided certain basic services, including water, electricity, and weekly refuse collection every Friday. However, they point out that a severe housing crisis persists.
“Housing is a problem because there are people who are still staying in shacks who are still on the waiting list,” the resident explained, noting that some community members have been waiting for over a decade. They emphasized that the local government can do more to allocate land and properly settle people.
Meanwhile, in the Mbekweni community, a resident of 30 years is calling for greater responsiveness from municipal officials. While acknowledging the provision of basic utilities, they highlighted frustrating disruptions, such as burst pipes that leave residents without water for up to four hours at a time.
“You need to be visible. You need to come and bring things and say that here is the water,” the resident urged, emphasizing that officials need to move quickly to care for the elderly and the sick in the community.
Beyond utilities, this resident’s biggest concern is the deterioration of public spaces and parks for children. They noted that fencing has been removed from local play areas, leaving them unsafe. They suggested that the municipality should engage with the community to form committees to rehabilitate these spaces so children can feel comfortable and secure.
Despite these frustrations, the upcoming election has sparked a sense of civic duty among many, though not without concerns regarding voter apathy. One local voter expressed excitement about casting their ballot on November 4, 2026, noting they already know exactly where they will make their mark. However, they stressed that the municipality needs to uplift its standards and expressed concern over the lack of political interest among the youth, despite seeing some positive, hardworking individuals actively encouraging community participation.
The long-time Mbekweni resident echoed this sentiment, worrying about the lack of interest among some community members in participating in the democratic process. Nevertheless, they remain hopeful that the elections will bring meaningful changes to a community where many have lost hope.
As these community members prepare to vote, they represent millions of South Africans looking to the November 4 elections with the shared hope of securing improved, reliable service delivery from their local councils.
