DA to blame for Joburg’s collapse, says ANC as it asks for another chance

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, a senior leader of the ANC, has blamed the DA for the deterioration of services in Johannesburg. According to Ndabeni-Abrahams, the city began to decline in 2016 when the DA first took over governing Johannesburg, working alongside the EFF. She stated that the city was in a better financial position when the ANC governed without a coalition arrangement.

Ndabeni-Abrahams acknowledged that the ANC has learned from its mistakes since the 2021 local government elections and has introduced 13 reforms through a white paper to address challenges that affect municipalities. She emphasized the importance of accountability mechanisms, but also noted that the ANC is the only party that has attempted to be transparent and take responsibility for failures.

Ndabeni-Abrahams pointed out that political instability in municipalities can also contribute to delays in service delivery. She recalled the challenges the ANC faced when governing most municipalities after 1994, as they had to ensure basic services such as water and electricity for South Africans. The party has since learned the importance of reviewing the funding policy for municipalities, as budgetary constraints sometimes hindered the implementation of changes.

ActionSA, the party led by Herman Mashaba, has defended Mashaba's record as Johannesburg's mayor under the DA between 2016 and 2018. They highlight the significant increase in investment in Johannesburg during his tenure, including the Inner-City Rejuvenation Project, which unlocked R32 billion in private-sector investment and aimed to create 22,000 jobs and affordable housing units.