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As South Africa prepares for local government elections in November, a concerning competency gap among councillors has come to light. There exists no nationwide minimum competency requirement for councillors, resulting in varying approaches to candidate selection and vetting by political parties. The Auditor-General's latest report presents a grim assessment of the local government landscape, highlighting the administration's failure to achieve the necessary turnaround.

Only 39 out of the 257 municipalities achieved clean audits in 2024-25, while 38 experienced a regression from their 2020-21 audit outcomes. Auditors noted that the 6th administration did not meet the desired goals for local government improvement, with mayors and councils making only limited progress in strengthening governance and enhancing service delivery.

The Auditor-General emphasized that the caliber and capability of elected leaders will be crucial in determining the success of the upcoming administration. Although municipal councils oversee budgets, spending, service delivery, and performance, there is currently no legislative mandate requiring councillors to possess specific educational qualifications or minimum competency levels.

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) concedes that councillors receive training post-election, covering various aspects such as governance, legislation, ethics, leadership, oversight, municipal finance, planning, accountability, and service delivery. However, the Auditor-General warns that the quality of political leadership is paramount, urging political parties to prioritize the capability and integrity of candidates put forward as council members and mayors.

Moreover, Corruption Watch suggests that voters should consider candidates' track records, achievements in previous positions, prioritization, and involvement in any scandals. Transparency regarding business interests that could conflict with the municipality is also crucial. The Auditor-General identified persistent weaknesses in procurement and contract management, with municipalities incurring R40.14 billion in irregular expenditure alone in 2024-25, bringing the total since 2021-22 to R145.21 billion.

Additionally, 116 municipalities adopted unfunded budgets, and 174 had insufficient cash to pay creditors at year-end. These issues extend beyond financial management, as the Auditor-General made material findings on performance information at 123 municipalities and compliance with legislation at 215 municipalities. The Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill before Parliament aims to strengthen municipal councils and office bearers' functionality and accountability.

While the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs does not support a national minimum competency requirement, it emphasizes councillor induction and ongoing capacity building. Local government expert Professor Pius Reddy recommends a minimum matric qualification and some tertiary education for councillors, stressing the importance of financial literacy for scrutinizing budgets and financial statements.

However, he cautions against relying solely on qualifications, as highly educated councillors can still be poor public representatives, while those with less formal education can excel. Voters are urged to seek candidates with a genuine commitment to serving their communities.