Residents of several communities in South Africa have threatened to withdraw their support for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) ahead of the November 4 local government elections, citing prolonged electricity shortages and failures in the delivery of basic services.
In Katlehong, a sprawling township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, about 180 households have reportedly relied on illegal electricity connections for more than 20 years because authorities have failed to provide them with proper access to the national power grid.
Community leader Lesiba Rankapole said residents had collectively decided not to support the ANC-led municipality unless their electricity concerns were addressed.
“We have made a collective decision: no electricity, no vote,” Rankapole said, expressing frustration over the community’s prolonged struggle to obtain legal electricity connections.
He acknowledged that residents were using illegal connections but said they had resorted to the practice because electricity was essential to everyday life. He added that the lack of reliable power was affecting children’s education and limiting opportunities for families.
Another resident, Enock Majola, said he had grown increasingly dissatisfied with the ANC because of persistent service delivery problems, including illegal dumping and poor sanitation.
Majola, who said he had supported the party for much of his life, expressed disappointment over the conditions in his community and indicated that he no longer wanted to be associated with the ruling party.
The dissatisfaction extends beyond electricity. In other communities, residents have raised concerns about unreliable water supplies, uncollected refuse, damaged roads, blocked drainage systems and sewage spilling into residential streets.
In Katlehong, resident Meshack Twala questioned the value of voting while his neighbourhood continued to experience persistent sewage problems. However, he admitted that he might still vote for the ANC, saying that switching allegiance to another party would not feel right to him.
The growing frustration comes as South Africa prepares for local government elections scheduled for November 4, which are expected to test the ANC’s ability to retain support amid mounting criticism of municipal service delivery.
The party, which played a central role in the struggle against apartheid under leaders including Nelson Mandela, has experienced a steady decline in electoral support over the past two decades. It secured nearly 70 per cent of the national vote in 2004 but won 46 per cent in the 2021 municipal elections.
In the 2024 national election, the ANC received just over 40 per cent of the vote, losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid and forcing it to form a coalition government with other political parties.
The party’s declining support has created opportunities for opposition groups, including the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, which is contesting local government elections for the first time.
Johannesburg has emerged as one of the major battlegrounds ahead of the polls. The city, which has a population of more than 4.8 million people, faces significant infrastructure and service delivery challenges, with residents in some neighbourhoods complaining about rubbish accumulation, potholes, inadequate street lighting and sewage problems.
In Alexandra township, maintenance worker Patrick Saohatse said years of ANC governance had failed to bring meaningful improvements to his community. He indicated that he intended to vote for the Democratic Alliance (DA), an opposition party that has made municipal service delivery a central part of its campaign.
The DA, which governs Cape Town, has criticised the ANC over what it describes as poor municipal management and deteriorating infrastructure. Meanwhile, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba is also seeking another opportunity to lead Johannesburg, campaigning on concerns about the city’s public services.
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