Overview
- Addressing roughly 4,600 councillors at FNB Stadium on 15 September, Ramaphosa demanded rapid service‑delivery fixes, including repairing water and sewage leaks within 48 hours and ending patronage hires.
- Citing Auditor‑General findings, he said the best audit outcomes are often in DA‑run councils and urged ANC representatives to study practices in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.
- The event followed an ANC NEC meeting that produced an action plan for rebuilding local government, with the president promising targeted party "intervention" in failing municipalities rather than blanket dismissals.
- Opposition and alliance responses diverged: the DA welcomed the comments as validation, while the EFF, Cosatu and the SACP criticised the praise for DA municipalities and highlighted service shortfalls in townships.
- Commentators cast the roll‑call as pre‑election mobilisation ahead of the 2026 local polls, questioning whether the new deadlines and accountability pledges will yield visible improvements.