Infrastructure woes plague Johannesburg ahead of local elections

Semadi Manganye, chief executive of Alexandra Water Warriors, highlighted the ongoing struggles. “We’ve got way too many challenges,” he stated, referencing frequent power cuts, water shortages, and waste management issues. Johannesburg’s population has grown considerably, increasing by 10% between 2011 and 2022, reaching 4.8 million, which has exacerbated the strain on public services.

Nationwide, only 15% of local governments received a clean audit in the last financial year, and two-thirds are considered financially distressed. Johannesburg, the nation’s largest city and commercial hub, has been particularly hard hit, experiencing 10 mayoral changes in the past decade and facing a staggering 220 billion rand infrastructure backlog. An estimated quarter of the water purchased by Johannesburg Water is lost due to leaks.

A recent public meeting in Rabie Ridge saw approximately 400 residents voicing their frustrations with Mayor Dada Morero and City Power officials. Residents recounted months without power and crippling energy bills, forcing some to resort to loan sharks. One attendee declared the organization “dysfunctional” to widespread applause.

The problems extend beyond townships, with affluent northern suburbs also experiencing prolonged water outages. Kate Spiller, a resident of Melville, described a desperate situation, relying on borehole water at a local mosque to collect water for bucket showers after a month-long outage.

Mayor Morero acknowledged the service disruptions but attributed power outages to a “collapsed” substation and blamed vandalism and criminal activity. He insisted Johannesburg is “providing the necessary services to our communities.”

However, corruption within the city’s infrastructure systems is a pervasive issue. A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime points to “governance failure” fostering a criminal ecosystem. Former city official Rashid Seedat described corruption as “endemic” across all levels, from petty bribes to inflated tenders.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), led by Helen Zille, is campaigning to unseat the African National Congress (ANC) and its coalition partners, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Patriotic Alliance. Zille’s campaign has gained traction through viral stunts highlighting the city’s infrastructure problems, such as a snorkeling demonstration in a flooded pothole. Recent polls show the DA gaining ground, with support ranging from 29% to 36%, compared to the ANC’s 22% to 27%.

Analysts warn that a return to similar coalition agreements could perpetuate the city’s decline. Ziyanda Stuurman of Africa Practice suggests a pattern of negotiation between the ANC, EFF, and ActionSA across multiple municipalities, potentially prioritizing political maneuvering over the city’s well-being.