Upcoming local government elections in South Africa may provide an opportunity to demand accountability from municipalities and the restoration of basic services, according to an opinion column by Daily Maverick. The author links the decline of many urban and rural centres to problems in local government, including potholes, malfunctioning traffic lights, persistent water interruptions and uncollected rubbish.
Municipal audit data
The column cites data from a recent municipal audit conducted by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke. Of 257 municipalities, 39 received a clean audit opinion. Water losses were estimated at 14 billion rand, irrecoverable debt at 72 billion rand, and electricity losses at 21 billion rand.
No local municipality in the North West and Free State provinces received a clean audit. As the author notes, poor municipal performance forces households to spend money on private alternatives, including generators and independent water supplies, while also putting pressure on micro, small and medium-sized businesses.
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Voter participation
The author also draws attention to low voter participation. According to the Electoral Commission, following the 2021 by-elections, a councillor was elected with the participation of only 2,000 voters in a ward where more than 13,000 people were eligible to vote.
In 2021, more than 40.6 million people in South Africa were eligible to vote. Of them, 26 million registered, while 12 million went to polling stations. The column stresses that protests and outrage on social media do not replace participation in elections, which are a tool for influencing local governance.
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