With local government elections approaching, Gauteng’s municipalities are facing mounting scrutiny as the provincial government outlines progress on addressing persistent service delivery failures.
Gauteng COGTA MEC Jacob Mamabolo, alongside Members of Mayoral Committees from all 11 municipalities, briefed the media on the implementation of the Local Government Turnaround Strategy — a plan first convened at a province-wide summit in October 2024 in Mogale City.
“We accept that we do have challenges in local government,” Mamabolo said. “We are working together — national, province, our municipalities — in an integrated way. We are solving the problems, the challenges that residents face daily.”
The province reports early improvements in governance, infrastructure management, crime reduction efforts, and the filling of key senior posts. Mamabolo emphasized that municipalities function not only as service delivery hubs but also as critical economic spaces needed to address unemployment.
“No single sphere of government working alone, no person working in a corner inside an office, will be able to solve the problems we have,” he said. “When we talk past each other, when we work in silos, the problems persist.”
The MEC said the strategy leverages smart technologies with the goal of building an integrated smart city region, positioning Gauteng alongside global cities. He stressed that cooperation across all three spheres of government is essential.
Responding to ongoing community frustrations over infrastructure and service delivery failures, Mamabolo said the turnaround strategy is precisely designed to address those grievances. He expressed confidence that integration and sound intergovernmental relations would allow the province to “prevail over the problems.”
The briefing comes as residents continue demanding greater accountability from local government ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.