Ramaphosa sets five-point plan to fix failing municipalities
President Cyril Ramaphosa used a meeting of the Presidential Coordinating Council on Thursday to lay out a five-point plan aimed at fixing South Africa’s struggling municipalities.
The President placed accountability, financial discipline, and skills at the centre of efforts to restore basic service delivery.
Ramaphosa delivered the keynote speech at the President’s Coordinating Council (NCC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel, Johannesburg, on Thursday.
“National government sets national policy, while provincial governments coordinate the implementation of policy, and local government delivers the execution of policy.”
Pointing to persistent problems such as water disruptions, poor infrastructure maintenance, and weak financial management at local government level, the President said the purpose of the council was to ensure that all spheres of government do not work in silos.
Central to his address were five principles he said must guide urgent reforms.
First, he stressed that accountability must be restored.
“Every institution represented here must be clear about its role, its obligations, and the timelines that it must put in place; the public is entitled to know who is responsible if commitments are not met.”
Second, he called for stronger financial discipline, saying the financial integrity of water services must be protected and that revenue generated from these services must be ring-fenced to ensure it supports maintenance, upgrades, and long-term sustainability rather than being diverted elsewhere.
Third, Ramaphosa highlighted the need to rebuild technical capacity in municipalities.
“Technical and professional capability must be strengthened. Municipal water and sanitation systems require qualified engineers, plant operators, project managers, technicians, and financial experts. Without the right people in the right posts, even the best plans will remain unimplemented.”
Fourth, he pushed for stricter enforcement, and the fifth and final principle the President listed was the importance of coordination across government.
He reiterated that government had already introduced reforms in the water sector and was working to unlock investment into infrastructure. However, the President stressed that progress would depend on implementation at the local level.
Ramaphosa concluded by urging leaders across all spheres of government to commit to clear actions and timelines, warning that the credibility of the state depends on its ability to deliver.
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