Hill-Lewis says ANC’s 100-day municipal plan is ‘implausible’

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has dismissed the ANC's 100-day municipal reform plan as "implausible" and lacking integrity, suggesting that voters cannot trust the governing party to fix the problems they have created. The ANC unveiled its local government election manifesto, featuring a six-point plan, in Johannesburg on the same day the plan was announced.

Hill-Lewis argued that the ANC's promises to improve basic services, strengthen municipal finances, and support local economic development are unattainable within the proposed timeframe. The ANC plans for mayors and councillors to publish priorities, establish service-delivery baselines, and demonstrate measurable progress within the first 100 days of their term.

Additionally, the ANC has committed to filling critical municipal vacancies within 120 days. Hill-Lewis contended that the ANC is asking South Africans to trust them to repair failing municipalities after years of declining services and governance failures. "The ANC asks South Africans to believe that the same party that has presided over the collapse of municipalities will suddenly fix them again within 100 days," he stated.

"These promises are implausible and lack integrity." The governing party acknowledged that services remained unreliable and infrastructure deteriorated in many municipalities due to poor leadership, political instability, corruption, and appointing unqualified individuals. Hill-Lewis emphasized that the DA offers voters an alternative based on accountability, competence, and service delivery.

He argued that South Africans deserve local governments that function properly and a future national government led by the DA. "South Africans deserve a different future with local governments that work, and ultimately a DA-led future national government that brings the same culture of accountability, competence, and service to the whole country," Hill-Lewis said.

The DA could reference its existing record in government rather than asking voters to trust another set of promises. "The ANC asks South Africans to trust another set of promises. The DA shows people exactly how we are already making government work, and can do the same in many more towns and cities," Hill-Lewis explained. A DA-led government would protect revenue collected for water and electricity to ensure it is spent on those services.

"We will protect the money you pay for water and electricity so it is spent on those services," Hill-Lewis said. The DA would appoint people based on their ability to perform the job rather than political connections, cut red tape hindering job creation and investment, and hold accountable those who waste or steal public funds. Hill-Lewis insisted that the DA was not promising quick solutions to South Africa's municipal issues.

"The DA does not promise miracles in 100 days. We are offering the hard work, sound management, and honest government needed to make things work every day," he concluded. The party aimed to build "clean, safe, growing communities" where government respected residents' time, money, and dignity.