Political analyst: Service delivery failures may cost ANC in Polokwane

POLOKWANE – As political parties gear up to intensify their campaigns ahead of next year’s Local Government Election, citizens are also beginning to reflect on which party is best positioned to deliver basic services effectively.

This reflection is unfolding amid growing dissatisfaction among residents, who have voiced frustration over what many perceive as a struggling or even failing Polokwane Municipality under the ANC’s continued majority rule.

This is according to independent political analyst Zackaria Moabelo, who weighed in on the situation, citing the inconsistency in service delivery over the past five years as a major factor likely to impact the ANC’s support in the city – a city that still aspires to achieve metropolitan status

.”Water supply disruptions that left taps dry for weeks, combined with ongoing Eskom load-shedding, dysfunctional streetlights, and rising unemployment among youth, many of whom have turned to drugs and crime, all contribute to a bleak picture. These are issues that not only reflect local governance failures but resonate nationally as well,” he said.

While acknowledging the challenges, Moabelo also noted that the municipality has taken steps to address service delivery issues.

These include the rollout of several water capacity projects (some completed, others underway), youth employment campaigns, and road maintenance efforts such as pothole repairs.

Moabelo believes the ANC will face an uphill battle in urban areas like Polokwane, especially with a growing opposition presence from parties such as the DA, EFF and the newly emerged uMkhonto we Sizwe Party.

“These parties are often seen prioritising political education among their supporters, which empowers citizens to hold their leaders accountable, especially when service delivery is poor.”

This evolving political landscape raises the possibility of coalition governments becoming the new norm in local politics, he said. “We are looking at a 60% likelihood of a municipal coalition government in Polokwane. All these parties, including the ANC, have the potential to be part of it.

The dynamics at national level, however, particularly the politics of the Government of National Unity, could influence which parties eventually align at local level.

Despite their opposing ideologies, political compromise is often the price of power,” he concluded.