Friday, 25 September 2026

Johannesburg’s infrastructure backlog was put at R220 billion, including about R29 billion for water; the ANC proposed a 10-year infrastructure plan and capital-market funding.

The city’s mayor acknowledged water losses of roughly 40%, while defending pipe replacement, reservoir construction and measures that reduced losses by about 3.5% this financial year.

ActionSA proposed dissolving Johannesburg’s 13 municipal entities and absorbing them into city departments, arguing their boards and divided responsibilities create bureaucracy and obstruct service delivery.

DA representatives promised reliable water and electricity, functioning roads, 200,000 new jobs and restored law and order, citing Midvaal’s clean-audit record as evidence of better governance.

The IFP prioritised stable government after eight mayors in 10 years, alongside economic growth, safer streets, infrastructure maintenance, informal-settlement formalisation and reducing the housing backlog.