Political intervention is urgently needed to rescue South Africa’s failing local governments. Explore insights from Auditor-General Maluleke and understand why political will is essential for municipal reform.
Political intervention, local government South Africa, Tsakani Maluleke, municipal audit, government reform, South African municipalities, local governance crisis, governance and politics, corruption watch
A Call for Urgent Political Action
The state of local government in South Africa is in crisis. According to the latest audit outcomes by Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke, municipalities across the country continue to show signs of deep-rooted dysfunction. Years of over-reliance on consultants, combined with poor political leadership, have left many municipalities unable to fulfill their basic mandates. A strong and immediate political intervention is now essential to prevent further deterioration and begin a path of recovery and reform.
Maluleke’s Findings: A Decade of Mismanagement
Auditor-General Maluleke’s report is a sobering reminder that the challenges plaguing South African local government are not new. For over a decade, the same issues have persisted: irregular expenditures, unauthorized projects, financial misstatements, and a general disregard for compliance with legislative frameworks.
The 2024/2025 audit reveals that only a handful of municipalities received clean audits — and even these were under significant pressure to maintain service delivery standards.
Maluleke stressed that these audit findings reflect a systemic governance failure. “There is a serious lack of accountability, and this is worsened by the failure of political and administrative leadership to act decisively,” she noted in her statement.
Maluleke: Excessive Use of Consultants: A Drain on Resources
One of the most troubling aspects of the audit report is the overuse of consultants to perform basic financial and administrative functions. Instead of building internal capacity, municipalities have become dependent on costly external contractors. This trend not only wastes limited public funds but also indicates a lack of investment in sustainable governance structures.
According to the Auditor-General, some municipalities spent over 40% of their budget on consultants — often with little or no improvement in audit outcomes.
Political Neglect and Lack of Willpower
Beyond administrative weaknesses lies a more troubling issue: political apathy. Many councils are plagued by internal power struggles, lack of transparency, and poor leadership. Political leaders often fail to implement Auditor-General recommendations or enforce accountability.
This neglect has led to communities being deprived of essential services such as water, electricity, and sanitation — escalating public dissatisfaction and eroding trust in government institutions.
Corruption Watch has consistently documented these failures and advocated for systemic political reform to ensure more responsive and ethical local governance.
Citizens Pay the Price: Impact on Service Delivery
The impact of local government failure is most acutely felt by ordinary citizens. Poor road maintenance, unreliable water supply, electricity outages, and decaying infrastructure are now common across many municipalities. In towns such as Emfuleni and Makana, residents have taken legal action against their councils — a sign of how dire the situation has become.
According to SALGA, service delivery protests have surged by over 30% in the past year, highlighting the urgent need for reforms that center on community engagement and responsive leadership.
Further reading:
https://www.corruptionwatch.org.za/tag/local-government-20/feed
Is There Hope? Potential for Political Intervention
While the situation may seem bleak, there are avenues for recovery. Political intervention — when conducted in good faith and rooted in accountability — can bring about meaningful change. For instance, the appointment of competent municipal managers, robust financial oversight mechanisms, and strengthened public participation processes can help restore governance at the local level.
Government departments and provincial executives must use their constitutional powers under Section 139 to intervene when municipalities fail to meet their obligations. Yet, such interventions must be strategic, transparent, and outcomes-driven, rather than politically motivated or temporary fixes.
Conclusion: The Time for Political Courage Is Now
The evidence presented by Auditor-General Maluleke is clear: without urgent and bold political intervention, local government in South Africa will continue to regress. Fixing our municipalities is not only about financial compliance — it’s about restoring dignity to communities, ensuring equitable service delivery, and reviving trust in democratic governance.
This cannot happen without political will, institutional reform, and active citizen engagement.
South Africa stands at a crossroads. The choice is between inaction and further collapse — or deliberate, strategic political action that prioritizes the public good. The time for political courage is now.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: A Call for Urgent Political Action
- Maluleke’s Findings: A Decade of Mismanagement
- Excessive Use of Consultants: A Drain on Resources
- Political Neglect and Lack of Willpower
- Citizens Pay the Price: Impact on Service Delivery
- Is There Hope? Potential for Political Intervention
- Conclusion: The Time for Political Courage Is Now
