For Emfuleni to succeed, the ANC must fall

After 31 years of ANC mis-governance, the Emfuleni Municipality is collapsing. Most of its residents live in abject suffering and squalor, denied the most basic of needs, a state of indignity in total contravention of South Africa’s Constitution.

The evidence of Emfuleni’s ruin is without question. Mismanagement, corruption and a blatant disregard for residents’ dignity have left communities in distress. The municipality, with its constant lack of service delivery and crumbling infrastructure, is in crisis. And the only hope for its resurrection lies in the hands of its voters, who can vote out the ANC in the municipal elections next year.

Recently, the Committee for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) submitted a report to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) detailing the complete collapse and ongoing financial difficulties of the Emfuleni Local Municipality.

Among the key recommendations and interventions outlined in the report, covering the period between 2016 and 2023, is the proposal to place the municipality under full administration, in line with Section 139(5) of the Constitution, and transfer financial control to either the provincial or national treasury.

The mismanagement and corruption detailed in the report are exemplified by the case of Evaton Road, located in the small farms area of Evaton. The Gauteng Department of Transport and Logistics, led by MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, recently expressed satisfaction with a supposed upgrade completed in 2017 for R32 million.

However, a recent DA oversight visit revealed an unsettling fact: the road remains the same, with sewage flowing along it and surrounded by overgrown grass that provides cover for criminals.

This is a blatant betrayal of public trust

The municipality’s sewerage crisis further underlines the ANC’s failures. Between 2019 and 2024, Emfuleni spent R202.6 million on 71 contractors to address sewage leaks; however, raw sewage continues to flood streets, homes, and even pour into the Vaal River, posing severe health risks.

Water losses exceeding R3 billion over five years have left communities in Emfuleni grappling with chronic outages, forcing many to buy water and travel to access it. In 2023 alone, R65.25 million was spent on water tankers, yet communities still go for days without water. Informal settlements such as Moscow have endured the worst of the situation with no ablution facilities and proper sanitation for over 10 years, a clear violation of human rights.

Amid the worsening infrastructure collapse, the Emfuleni returned R636.2 million in unspent Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding to the National Treasury over the past five years. These funds could have been used to repair roads, sewers, and water systems. Instead, R561 million was spent on employee overtime, often for no tangible service, and R221.6 million went to service providers with little to show for it.

Furthermore, the Emfuleni Local Municipality continues to double-dip in its expenditure. From 2019 to 2024, the municipality spent R129 million on outsourced waste removal, despite having 251 employed staff in the waste management department with monthly salaries of R3 860 725,47 and overtime of R1 225 525,17.

Emfuleni schools are in a dire state of decay. At Golden Gardens Primary School, only six toilets are operational due to persistent plumbing issues. While Iphahlolleng Intermediary School has been without power for five years, with collapsing ceilings and non-functional ablution facilities endangering learners.

Another example of ANC failures is the notable tale of Palm Springs Multi-Purpose Centre, which was set to begin construction in 2017 and to be completed in two years at a projected cost of R44 million. Over R24 million was paid to construct layers of earth materials and the installation of a stormwater drainage system, but today the site is nothing but gravel and grass.

Compounding this collapse in basic service delivery is the recent revelation that the municipality's offices have been closed due to unpaid rent, a clear indication of the deep financial and administrative dysfunction at the heart of its operations. Just when it seems the municipality has hit its lowest point, it finds a new level of failure.

But what can we expect from an ANC leadership that has consistently shown a lack of accountability? Emfuleni’s Executive Mayor, Cllr. Sipho Radebe, along with senior officials, has repeatedly ignored the Petitions Standing Committee by failing to attend formal invitations to address urgent issues related to human settlements, including the renewal of Evaton Township. This pattern of absenteeism not only violates their constitutional duty to serve but also undermines legislative oversight.

One could be forgiven for thinking that Emfuleni’s municipal officials have learned from those higher up in the ANC’s rank and file. Premier Panyaza Lesufi has, since the beginning of his tenure, been evading the release of critical forensic reports and protecting underperforming MECs, despite their failures having a direct cost on Gauteng residents.

Residents of Emfuleni deserve better. They deserve leaders who prioritise their constitutional rights to clean water, proper sanitation, and a safe environment.

A DA-led Gauteng government would ensure infrastructure upgrades are delivered on time, transparent financial management, and responsive governance. We would hold contractors accountable, prioritise essential services, and invest in sustainable solutions to end sewage spills and water losses. We would ensure our schools are safe havens for learning, not symbols of neglect. We would ensure informal settlements are formalised so they are able to receive basic services.

The ANC has had decades to deliver, yet Emfuleni continues to crumble under its governance. The only way to restore Emfuleni’s prosperity is for residents to use their democratic power and vote them out. It is time for ethical, accountable leadership that puts the people first.

Let us reclaim Emfuleni’s future together.

Kingsol Chabalala MPL, DA Emfuleni North Constituency Head