ASHOR SARUPEN | South Africa needs less political chaos and more delivery - TimesLIVE

On November 4, South Africans will make a choice that will shape their cities and towns for the next five years. The choice before voters is simple: do municipalities spend the next five years delivering services or do hundreds of towns and cities face a cycle of endless political instability and drama.

One needs to look no further than the embarrassing tenure of two mayors from a micro-party in Johannesburg to understand what is really at stake.

South Africans are tired of the chaos. Most people just want to open their taps knowing that clean water will run, that at night the streetlights work, that their refuse is collected, that potholes get fixed and that their roads are maintained, and that public money is spent responsibly. They want councils focused on solving problems, not fighting political battles.

These are not ambitious demands. They are the basic responsibilities of local government.

Yet in too many municipalities, governing has taken a back seat to relentless coalition chaos and endless fights for survival by political mercenaries who play games. Coalition disputes, shifting allegiances, endless motions of no confidence and battles for positions have consumed time and energy that should have been spent improving services and improving people’s lives.

South Africans are tired of the chaos. Most people just want to open their taps knowing that clean water will run, that at night the streetlights work, that their refuse is collected, that potholes get fixed and that their roads are maintained and that public money is spent responsibly

The consequences are visible in every community. Infrastructure projects stall. Decisions are delayed. Accountability is weakened. Municipal administrations lose direction as political leadership changes hands repeatedly.

Meanwhile, pipes burst, potholes deepen and electricity networks deteriorate.

For the DA, the purpose of winning an election is not just to occupy office. It is to make government work for all.

That is why stable government matters and why the DA is asking voters to give us a strong hand to stabilise local government so we can get towns and cities working for all.

Municipal councils are responsible for approving budgets, overseeing service delivery, setting priorities and holding administrations accountable. To do that effectively, they need certainty and direction. A stable governing majority provides both.

It allows a government to implement a coherent programme over a full term, plan infrastructure investment with confidence and establish clear lines of accountability. It means decisions can be made in the public interest rather than negotiated endlessly to preserve fragile political arrangements.

A majority on its own does not guarantee good government. Competence, integrity and accountability need to come with that majority. The DA has demonstrated, where we govern, that we offer both.

DA-led governments have shown that disciplined financial management, professional administration and sustained investment in infrastructure can translate into better outcomes for residents. In the Western Cape and municipalities across the country, the DA has demonstrated that government can work, even under difficult economic conditions.

This record was not built overnight. It is the product of experience, difficult decisions, institutional reform and a long-term commitment to delivery.

Anyone can promise better government during an election campaign. The real test is whether they have demonstrated the ability to deliver it.

South Africa does not need another local government experiment. It needs a government with a proven record of delivery.

That is what makes this election so important for the future of basic services in our towns and cities.

South Africa’s political landscape is becoming increasingly competitive. In many municipalities, the outcome will be decided by narrow margins, and a handful of council seats could determine whether a stable government emerges or whether another cycle of political bargaining begins.

In Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, and in many local municipalities, voters have an opportunity to choose a different path. In Cape Town, voters will decide whether to maintain the stability that has underpinned continued service delivery.

Across the country, every vote will help determine whether municipalities are governed by clear mandates for delivery or fragile arrangements that deliver chaos.

Voters should consider what happens after election day. Will their vote contribute to a stable, effective government? Does the party they support have a record of delivery? Can it demonstrate the experience and capacity needed to govern successfully?

These questions matter because the costs of instability are no longer theoretical. South Africans have lived through them.

The DA is asking voters to consider a simple proposition: give a party that has demonstrated it can govern the mandate to do so.

Not because any party is entitled to power, but because residents are entitled to functioning municipalities.

Imagine what five years of focused government could achieve.

Five years spent repairing water networks instead of political relationships.

Five years spent fixing roads rather than endless horse trading.

Five years spent restoring infrastructure, improving financial management, attracting investment and creating conditions for economic growth.

Five years in which councillors are judged by what they deliver, not by the political manoeuvres they survive.

That is the real choice facing South Africa.

This election is not simply about who occupies municipal offices. It is about whether local government returns to its core purpose: delivering services, maintaining infrastructure and improving the quality of life of all communities.

On November 4, voters have an opportunity to choose stability over chaos, accountability over uncertainty and delivery over political bargaining.

It is time to stop managing instability and start building municipalities that work. Voters have the power to stop the chaos and start delivering.