ANC ANNIVERSARY STATEMENT FOCUSES ON FIXING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

ANC ANNIVERSARY STATEMENT FOCUSES ON FIXING LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• 10 January 2026
• General Interest
• SA Legal Academy

Delivered on 10 January 2026 in Maruleng, North West Province, the African National Congress’ (ANC’s) anniversary statement identified an array of issues that may also feature in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 12 February 2026 State of the Nation Address. This is bearing in mind that:

• the anniversary statement is traditionally used to call on government to address matters of particular concern to the ANC, and that
• although no longer holding a clear majority of seats in Parliament’s National Assembly, the ANC still occupies more seats than any other party in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Against that backdrop, this year’s anniversary statement prioritised:

• a raft of interventions intended to ‘fix’ local government, along with
• ongoing economic transformation.

To those ends, it called on the GNU to:

• ‘fast-track the review of the local government funding model and the equitable share policy so that municipalities are placed on a sustainable financial footing’
• ‘reform the skills system to better meet the needs of the economy and … ensure that young people are equipped for employment and entrepreneurship’, among other things by:
  • ‘strengthening basic education’, and
  • ‘reviewing the (sectoral education and training) SETA system’
• ‘accelerate export market diversification’
• ‘continue the focused implementation of, and reporting on, the recommendations of the (Zondo) Commission on State Capture’
• ‘respond promptly and decisively to the findings of the Madlanga Commission to restore public trust  and uphold constitutional values’ by ‘strengthen(ing) the integrity and capacity’ of:
  • the criminal justice system
  • national security
  • border management
  • anti-corruption measures, and
  • community safety
• ‘accelerate the implementation of the national strategic plan … (for curbing gender-based violence) GBVF’
• ‘confront gang violence by working closely with communities, (community policing forums) CPFs and other stakeholders’
• ‘strengthen rural and farm security across the country’
• ‘address porous borders by strengthening the Border Management Authority as part of efforts to combat:
  • illegal mining, (and)
  • organised crime and terrorism’
• ‘update laws and policies to reflect the realities of global migration’, and
• ‘work constructively with … traditional leaders as part of a united effort to build vibrant rural com munities and local economies’.

In the context of ‘fixing’ local government, the statement called on municipalities to:

• ‘increase funding for infrastructure maintenance and strengthen administrative capacity’
• ‘strengthen financial management’
• ‘ensure that debt owed to municipalities is eliminated and that all municipalities pay Eskom and water boards for bulk utilities purchased’ by:
  • ‘strengthen(ing) billing and collection systems’
  • ‘ring-fenc(ing) water revenue and intensify efforts to reduce water losses’, and
  • ‘act(ing) decisively against illegal connections and vandalism’
• ‘ensure that local economic development plans reflect the comparative advantages of each area and build partnerships with the private sector’
• ‘make (connectivity and Internet) services and payments available online to improve access for citizens’
• ‘fix potholes, remove refuse regularly, keep communities clean and green, and provide clean water and sanitation’
• ‘revitalise industrial parks and special economic zones to attract investment that supports local manufacturing and creates jobs’
• ‘review by-laws to improve the ease of doing business and reduce red tape for local (small, medium and micro enterprises) SMMEs and informal businesses by speeding up approvals and reducing licensing costs’
• ‘optimise public employment programmes’, and
• ‘implement preferential procurement that supports local businesses, especially township- and village-based enterprises’.

Regarding water, the statement also called on government agencies to ‘provide ongoing support to municipalities … (in) access(ing) the trading services grant, so that they can leverage private-sector investment in municipal water services’.

Please click the link below for more details:

• 2026 anniversary statement
• Zondo commission report
• Madlanga commission of inquiry into the criminal justice system 
• national strategic plan for curbing GBV and femicide
• trading services grant/programme

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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