President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on incoming councillors following the 2026 Local Government Elections to prioritise service delivery over political power struggles. Speaking at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) results announcement in Midrand on 8 November, Ramaphosa stressed that municipalities must quickly be constituted to start their work of meeting residents’ needs.
“Councils must be constituted without delay,” Ramaphosa said. “The stability of our municipalities cannot be sacrificed to narrow political interests. The delivery of essential services cannot be held hostage by political disagreements.” His remarks came amid a fragmented local government landscape marked by numerous hung councils and intense coalition negotiations.
The President emphasised that South Africans expect reliable water, electricity, refuse collection, maintained infrastructure, and safe neighbourhoods from their local governments. “These are not unreasonable expectations. They are the basic requirements of a life of dignity,” Ramaphosa stated.
With many municipalities requiring coalition agreements, Ramaphosa urged parties to negotiate in good faith to elect office-bearers promptly. “We need municipalities that maintain infrastructure, provide basic services and stand firm against construction mafias,” he said, underscoring the importance of fighting corruption and inefficiency at grassroots levels.
Ramaphosa also highlighted the government’s revised White Paper on Local Government, designed to strengthen municipalities financially and operationally while ensuring resources are directed towards infrastructure maintenance and service reliability.
The 2026 Local Government Elections were held on 4 November, with special votes cast on 2 and 3 November. The outcomes have deepened the necessity for mature coalition-building as no single party gained outright control in many areas. South Africans will be watching closely as newly elected councillors take office to see if they can move beyond politics and deliver on their promises.
This focus on service delivery is particularly relevant to communities across the Cape Flats and other disadvantaged areas, where failures in local governance have long hampered development and quality of life.
Ramaphosa’s message was confirmed through official government sources and independent media coverage, emphasising its significance amid heightened coalition tensions. Detailed official seat counts and precise hung council figures remain subject to verification against IEC records.
The Cape Flats news team will be monitoring how quickly councils are established and the extent to which councillors can move past political division to address urgent community needs.