The South Africa Water Crisis: 30 Years of Municipal Failures by the African National Congress
“Howler.” Cartoon by Zapiro, https://www.zapiro.com/260214dm.
The Premier Panyaza Lesufi of the African National Congress (ANC) has come under criticism regarding the most recent water crisis in Johannesburg. As residents of Johannesburg entered their third week without water, Lesufi sympathized with them in a press conference by expressing that politicians were similarly struggling. Lesufi stated that he even had to visit a hotel “so that [he] could bathe and go to [his] commitments.” To the people, this statement came across exceedingly tone deaf, and Lesufi is facing a significant amount of backlash. The controversy surrounding this event represents a broader trend in South Africa with the once renowned ANC falling from favor in the eyes of the people.
The ANC, formerly known as the South African Native National Congress, was formed in 1912 to advocate against racially discriminatory legislation. While their prominence in South African politics would fluctuate throughout the early-twentieth century, the creation of the Youth League within the organization marked the start of a radical movement against apartheid. The presidential election of Mandela in 1994 solidified the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new, unified government for South Africa.
Unfortunately, the ANC has failed to meet many of its promises in the twenty-first century. Despite recognition on the international level, the party has performed poorly when it comes to resolving local infrastructure issues. The 2024 water shortage in Johannesburg is almost identical to the crisis now, and issues extend far beyond water supply to blackouts, potholes, and uncollected trash. The dissatisfaction of all citizens of South Africa was made clear in 2024 as the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years, forcing the creation of a coalition government. Although some believe that a coalition government may improve conditions by increasing accountability and consensus-based decision-making, there is the risk that divisiveness will lead to gridlock and worsen current issues. As a new wave of local elections approaches, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa is pushing his fellow ANC members to focus on offering stable local services, with his government pledging 54 billion rand ($3.28 billion USD) for water and power infrastructure.
The methods the ANC needs to employ to bolster their reputation are clear. Whether or not representatives will choose to focus on fixing municipality services is largely unknown—many seem to recognize the issues but few have done anything to resolve it. What is evident is that the people of South Africa will not be silenced until the government fulfills its basic obligations to them.