Municipalities are the sphere of government closest to the
people. They are responsible for the services that shape our
everyday lives — from the water that comes out of our taps and
the electricity that powers our homes, to the roads we drive on,
the rubbish collected from our streets and the sewage systems
that protect our communities. Yet, across South Africa,
residents continue to grapple with failing infrastructure, water
shortages, sewage spills, potholes and allegations of
corruption and financial mismanagement. For many
communities, the frustration is not simply about the absence of
services, but about paying for services they do not consistently
receive.
The question is whether these failures reflect a shortage of
resources, a lack of capable leadership, political interference or
an accountability system that is simply not working. Year after
year, municipal audit findings raise concerns about financial
controls, irregular expenditure and the management of public
funds. Yet residents are still waiting for meaningful
improvements, while some municipalities struggle to meet
even their most basic obligations.

With local government elections approaching, we examine the
state of our municipalities, the people and institutions
responsible for their performance, and whether political leaders
are being held accountable for the conditions in which
communities live. What should voters be looking at when
assessing the performance of their local government? And
what must change to ensure that municipalities become

The State of Our
Municipalities: Who Is
Being Held
Accountable?

Zolani Zoyani Local
government expert.

accountable, financially sustainable and capable of delivering
the services residents are entitled to? We speak to an expert
about the