Municipalities are at the heart of our everyday lives, from the water we drink and the electricity we
use, to the roads we travel and the waste that is collected from our communities. But across South Africa, concerns over poor governance, financial mismanagement and failing service delivery continue to raise questions about who is responsible and who should be held accountable. With National Treasury withholding equitable share funding from several municipalities over financial and governance concerns, fears are growing about the potential impact on service delivery. At the same time, with the Local Government Elections approaching, voters will have an opportunity to decide whether to reward, reject or replace the councillors and political parties responsible for running their municipalities. To unpack the role of active citizens in holding local government accountable, Pholoso Tlabyane is in conversation with Noluthando Sithole, an Advocate for Active Citizenry.