Overview
- Delivering the ANC’s January 8 Statement at the party’s 114th anniversary event in Rustenburg, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the movement’s first task in 2026 is to fix local government and improve services.
- Government will invest R54 billion over the next three years to repair and upgrade water and electricity infrastructure, with a strong focus on metros and safeguarding critical water systems.
- The ANC warned that underperforming or unethical councillors and mayors will be removed, reinforcing performance management steps initiated late last year.
- Ramaphosa said chronic national power shortages have ended, though some municipalities continue to experience local outages, and he noted recent improvements in electricity supply.
- Local elections must be held before November 2026, as the ANC confronts public frustration and longstanding municipal dysfunction highlighted in North West by the Auditor-General.