Ramaphosa puts daily services at heart of final voter pitch

With days to go before Wednesday’s local government elections, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has put the everyday worries of ordinary residents at the centre of his final pitch to voters, casting the ballot as a direct test of whether municipalities can deliver the basic services that shape daily life.

Speaking at the ANC’s Siyanqoba rally at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Ramaphosa told supporters the elections would be judged not by political slogans but by whether local governments meet the everyday needs of the people they serve. The stakes, he argued, are tangible.

“This is an important election. It is an election about whether the tap works, whether the street light comes on, and whether the refuse is collected,” he said.

For millions of South Africans, those questions go to the heart of what local government exists to do. Ramaphosa said the outcome will determine whether municipalities can provide basic services and improve livelihoods, and that voters will decide who manages their towns, cities, and villages.

“The people of South Africa will decide who to entrust with the responsibility of improving their lives. They will decide how their cities, towns, and villages should be run,” he said.

He did not shy away from the frustrations many communities have voiced. Ramaphosa acknowledged growing concerns over the cost of living and persistent anger around poor service delivery, saying the governing party had listened to residents during its campaign.

“We have listened to people who recognise and appreciate the changes the ANC has made. We have listened to people who are worried about the cost of living and who are frustrated about poor service delivery,” he said.

At the same time, he defended the party’s record, telling supporters no other political party has done more for the people of South Africa than the ANC.

“There is no other political party. However much they can decorate themselves about having done that and that. On balance, the ANC has done much, much more for our people than what we may have fallen short on. And it is this reflection that I say our people must have,” he said.

Ramaphosa insisted the ANC remains focused on economic growth and job creation, areas with direct consequences for household wellbeing. “Across all spheres of government, the ANC is doing what must be done to build an inclusive economy and create jobs,” he said.

Among the achievements and priorities he highlighted were the end of load shedding, efforts to improve water infrastructure, and plans to expand opportunities for young people. “By working together with Eskom and all social partners, the ANC-led government has brought load shedding to an end,” he said.

On water security, a daily concern for households across the country, Ramaphosa said government is investing in dams, pipelines, and treatment facilities while strengthening the ability of municipalities to provide clean water.

Looking ahead, he pledged one million work, training, and enterprise opportunities over the next term, including apprenticeships, learnerships, and graduate internships in ANC-run municipalities.

By contrast, Ramaphosa took aim at opposition-led municipalities, urging voters to scrutinise claims of superior performance in cities not governed by his party. “There are parties who claim the cities they govern work the best. But in these cities, ask whose neighbourhoods get their services first. Ask who benefits and who waits,” he said.

As South Africans prepare to head to the polls, the message from the ANC’s top leadership is clear: this election is about the services residents rely on each day, and voters themselves will render the verdict on who can be trusted to deliver them.