‘This can’t continue’: Ramaphosa punts new govt paper as ‘bold reset’ for failing councils

President Cyril Ramaphosa launched a revised white paper on local government, calling it a “bold reset” of a failing system that has left millions without reliable services.

Ramaphosa conceded that politicised appointments had opened the door to corruption and a lack of accountability.

We underestimated how politicised appointments would open the door to corruption, malfeasance, and a lack of accountability.

The white paper urges sweeping changes to professionalise municipalities.

They include the introduction of a differentiated model that links powers and functions to a municipality’s size, capability and performance. Where municipalities cannot deliver, responsibilities would be assigned elsewhere, most likely at a regional level.

The new model treats local government as a single, integrated system and strengthens the district development model to align national, provincial, and municipal work, according to Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa said the new model will ring-fence revenue from electricity and water sales for infrastructure maintenance.