By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has announced plans to focus on eradicating corruption and strengthening governance at the local government.
The ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is holding a special meeting on Saturday at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
According to the Auditor General’s latest report on local government, only 34 of the country’s 257 municipalities obtained clean audits in the 2022/23 financial year.
While a few municipalities have maintained clean audits over several years, exemplifying sound financial and performance management practices, the overall picture remains bleak, according to the AG.
Compliance with legislation continues to be a significant problem, with 86% of municipalities receiving material compliance findings, slightly worse than in previous years.
ANC NEC member Dickson Masemola said the party has declared a war on corruption, especially at the local government level.
“The ANC-led government is taking an assertive stance on eradicating corruption and strengthening governance at every level of leadership and government throughout all the three spheres of government.”
He said that the ANC NEC will draw up a comprehensive report focusing on how local government can be improved.
Masemola also said the ANC takes full responsibility for the problems in municipalities.
“We take full responsibility for what has happened in the municipalities because the people know that the ANC is their organisation.”
At least a quarter (25.6%) of ANC-led municipalities are dysfunctional and just under half (41%) have been identified as medium risk, according to data presented at the party’s lekgotla in August.
But Masemola says the party had made in roads in reclaiming some of these municipalities in Gauteng.
These include Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Johannesburg.
He said the party was now going back to the ground to ensure an out right victory in the next local government elections.
The ANC’s analysis showed that its poor showing in the 29 May elections — when it declined from 57% in 2019 to 40% — was due to voters staying away from the polls or voting for other parties in protest. The ANC wants to arrest any further decline in the 2026 municipal elections.