“This cannot continue”: Ramaphosa unveils a bold reset of South Africa’s failing municipalities

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially launched the Revised White Paper on Local Government, marking a significant attempt to overhaul a system that has been plagued by service delivery failures, financial instability, and administrative decay.

Addressing the nation, Ramaphosa emphasized that the current state of many municipalities is untenable. He noted that residents have become accustomed to unreliable services, deteriorating infrastructure, and administrations that fail to respond to their basic needs.

“This cannot continue,” he said.

The new policy framework represents a fundamental reassessment of how local government is structured, financed, and managed. A central pillar of the reform is the proposal to ring-fence revenue generated from the sale of water and electricity, ensuring these funds are strictly reserved for the maintenance and upgrading of the infrastructure required to provide those essential services.

The White Paper also seeks to professionalize municipal administrations by enforcing merit-based appointments and creating clearer boundaries between elected political officials and the civil servants responsible for day-to-day operations. This move is intended to curb the political interference and corruption that have historically undermined municipal performance.

Furthermore, the government plans to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to municipal functions. Under the proposed changes, municipalities will no longer be automatically expected to perform every function currently assigned to them, allowing for a more differentiated and sustainable model of governance.

Cabinet has endorsed a phased implementation plan, supported by a time-bound Local Government Transition Management Body. This body will oversee the transition, ensuring that the reforms are not merely policy on paper but result in tangible improvements in the daily lives of South Africans.