"ANC Governs Well": Fikile Mbalula Blames Coalitions for Service Delivery Failures

• ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula defended the party's governance record at the manifesto launch in Diepsloot on 23 August 2026
• Mbalula argued that Johannesburg deteriorated after coalition governments took over, saying the ANC delivered when governing alone
• The ANC's new local government manifesto leans heavily on implementation promises, including 100-day and five-year delivery timelines

SOUTH AFRICA — ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has defended his party's governance track record, arguing that coalition arrangements, not ANC leadership, are to blame for the country's service delivery failures.

Mbalula made the remarks in an interview with Newzroom Afrika following the ANC's local government manifesto launch in Diepsloot on Sunday, 23 August 2026.

ANC SG says the party governed well

When pressed on persistent complaints about poor sanitation, crumbling roads, and inadequate service delivery, he maintained that the party had performed well in municipalities where it holds an outright majority.

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"In Johannesburg, before the city fell into the hands of the coalition, the city was good. We fixed potholes, we did all of those things. Where we govern on our own, we are able to do things differently and consistently," Mbalula said.

Mbalula points to Emfuleni as coalition casualty

The ANC Secretary-General also singled out Emfuleni Local Municipality as an example of coalition governance gone wrong.

"Emfuleni has been a disappointment for us, and worse, it fell into the hands of the coalition and change of leadership," he said

He attributed the municipality's struggles to a loss of ANC control rather than to the party's own record there.

Mbalula added that governing alongside partners the ANC cannot hold accountable has made effective administration significantly harder.

Manifesto leans on delivery pledges

The manifesto launch comes as the ANC continues to grapple with a sharp decline in voter support. The party's backing in local government elections dropped from 64.82% in 2006 to 45.59% in 2021, a fall driven by recurring corruption scandals, rising unemployment, financially distressed municipalities, and consistent failures to provide basic services such as water and electricity.

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In response, the 2026 manifesto centres on implementation. Many of its commitments echo the party's 2021 election promises, including improving municipal functionality, maintaining infrastructure, and acting against corruption and nepotism. The document also outlines pledges around free basic services and accountable leadership, with delivery timelines ranging from 100 days to five years.

Ramaphosa praises ANC for end of load shedding

Briefly News reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa bragged about South Africa surpassing 460 consecutive days without load shedding, putting it down to clear leadership. The President made the comments in Diepsloot on 23 August 2026, where the African National Congress (ANC) launched its election manifesto.While addressing supporters, Ramaphosa stated that seven provinces were now free from load reduction, with ongoing work focused on the remaining affected areas in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Source: Briefly News