Siyabulela Jentile
Human Rights Activist
By Siyabulela Jentile
Civic Root Managing Director
Civic Root Advocacy notes the convening of an extended President’s Coordinating Council to address failing municipalities.
While this step is necessary, it also confirms what millions of South Africans have long been experiencing.
The crisis in local government is not new.
It is entrenched in the daily realities of communities; seen in dry taps, collapsing infrastructure, inconsistent waste collection, and the growing absence of a capable and responsive state at the local level.
The gathering of mayors, municipal managers, and national stakeholders reflects the scale of the problem.
However, the country has reached a point where acknowledgement alone is no longer sufficient.
South Africans have seen too many high-level engagements that diagnose the problem without producing meaningful consequences.
The central challenge is not a lack of understanding, but a lack of accountability.
Where municipalities have failed, there must be clear responsibility, defined timelines for intervention, and visible consequences for those entrusted with public resources who have not delivered.
The inclusion of the national water crisis committee highlights the severity of the situation.
Water is a constitutional right and a fundamental condition for dignity.
That this issue now requires coordinated national intervention speaks to deep systemic failures in governance.
Addressing it will require more than technical fixes; it will demand political will, transparency, and sustained oversight.
As the country moves toward the 2026 Local Government Elections, this moment must signal a shift from performance to substance.
Communities do not need further assurances; they need municipalities that function.
They need a state that is present not only in meetings and statements, but in service delivery, infrastructure, and the everyday lived experiences of citizens.
This presents an opportunity to begin restoring public trust.
However, that trust will not be rebuilt through words alone.
It will be earned through decisive action. Anything less will continue to widen the gap between power and the people it is meant to serve.
Tshwane Talks readers have been able to read stories in this publication for free for over two years now. We still want our readers to access our stories for free, but we are asking those among our readers who can afford it to contribute at least R30 a month to cover some of the costs of publishing this independent, non-aligned online newspaper which gives a voice to all sectors of society irrespective of race, colour, creed, religion, or political affiliation. You may make your contribution by depositing at least R30 a month into Tshwane Talks' bank account. Details are as follows:
Bank Details
Bank: Standard Bank
Account Number: 10225548834
Account Type: Cheque Account