The local government elections have come and gone, and now it is time for the new local government, throughout the 17 local municipalities and three districts in the province, to get to work.

For the victorious ANC which swept all of the local municipalities, it is not a new ground that they are entering into, but a continuation of a job they have held for the past five years.

They are expected not to disappoint poor communities that voted them into power for the next five years.
What this means, is that they should be spirited in service delivery as they were a few months before the elections. In my view, that accelerated service delivery was meant to convince the electorate to vote for them once again.

This time around, service delivery should be continuous throughout the entire five-year term.
I must say the ruling party is facing a mammoth task of improving the lives of the communities, especially the youth.

There is a significant decline in support for the ruling party, and these passed elections should serve as a serious warning for them to put their house in order.

In three years time, it will be the general elections which should be a test for them, as opposition parties are gaining momentum within their own ranks.

What people expect from them is simple: open up opportunities for everybody in all sectors.

They must cease the tendency of only benefiting their members. As head of local government, they are there to serve every citizen, irrespective of their party affiliation.

Jobs should be created for people, and the co-operatives they often speak of, should be implemented to allow people to contribute to the growth of the economy equitably.

Water provision should be accelerated, including the provision of decent housing for communities. Electricity supply in remote areas should be effective, and the eradication of poverty should be prioritised.

One thing the electorate will not tolerate, is the constant fighting between the ruling party and opposition parties at council meetings.

All that we expect is a cordial-working relationship between all parties. At the end of the day, the people need service delivery and this should be their priority.

The people have spoken, and now it is time for the ANC to deliver on its promises.