Rise Tsantsabane Communities (RTC) launched its manifesto on 17 October 2026 at the Tsantsabane showground, calling for an end to the municipality’s long-standing poor service delivery record. Michael Mabilo, RTC president, said the community can no longer tolerate what he described as 32 years of inadequate municipal services.
“The President of Rise Tsantsabane Communities (RTC), Michael Mabilo, says the 32-year bad record of service delivery at the Tsantsabane local municipality should come to an end,” he told supporters gathered under a large tent at the event. “As you can see, that really RTC is a product that the community of Tsantsabane at the end of the day can buy.” Mabilo added that even elders in the area showed confidence in RTC’s message.
RTC’s manifesto prioritises creating permanent jobs, tackling corruption in municipal projects, empowering communities, and addressing persisting issues with water and sanitation. These concerns reflect long recognised challenges documented in Tsantsabane Local Municipality’s recent annual reports.
The municipality acknowledges ageing water infrastructure including asbestos-cement pipes and an overburdened wastewater treatment plant. Annual reports state that while access to piped water remains high at 99%, adequate sanitation access increased marginally from 85% to 87%. However, wastewater treatment compliance averaged 76%, below the national Green Drop target of 90%.
Pressure from rapid population growth, informal settlements, and deteriorating infrastructure continues to exacerbate service delivery difficulties. The Auditor-General’s 2023-24 report further noted governance setbacks linked to key finance staff resignations and a shortage of skills among remaining officials, affecting the quality of financial reporting.
Recent months have seen ongoing water challenges in parts of Tsantsabane. The Democratic Alliance reported in August 2026 that Postmasburg residents faced water shortages, quality concerns, and a boil-water notice, highlighting the tangible impact of these infrastructure issues on the ground.
Speaking at the manifesto launch, Mabilo pointed to visible road damage and the mineral mining activity surrounding the area, calling for improved management and service delivery that benefits residents, not just industry. “If you can drive around Tsantsabane, you will see potholes, and we have close to 40 mines around Tsantsabane,” he said, though the exact number of mines remains unverified.
While RTC’s claims regarding a 32-year poor service record cannot be independently verified in full, municipal data and oversight reports confirm ongoing challenges that have affected communities here for years. The South African Human Rights Commission report on regional service delivery noted that failures cannot be attributed to a single cause but rather a complex mix of institutional, financial, and governance problems.
The launch indicates rising political mobilisation with service delivery as the central issue ahead of local government elections. RTC hopes to convert community dissatisfaction into electoral support by focusing on practical solutions and accountability.
CapeFlats.co.za will continue monitoring developments as the campaign progresses and will report on RTC’s outreach and municipal responses in Tsantsabane.