As the country approaches key local government elections in November, service delivery failures across major municipalities, including Johannesburg’s ongoing water crisis, are emerging as a defining political issue.
These pressures, experts say, are shaping voter concerns and testing public confidence in local governance ahead of the polls.
Johannesburg’s water challenges, alongside similar issues in other metros, have become a key example of the strain facing municipalities as election season approaches.
Dr Uduak Johnson, Academic Programme Leader at the MANCOSA School of Public Administration, says political parties should prioritise practical, achievable interventions ahead of the vote.
Stats SA’s 2025 General Household Survey shows access to improved sanitation increased from 61.7% in 2002 to 84.0% in 2025, while household connection to mains electricity rose from 76.7% to 90.6% over the same period.
