7 March 2025 | 12:00 p.m. CAT
3-minute read

President Ramaphosa’s Gauteng intervention raises questions of timing and political motives

Johannesburg – President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with Gauteng provincial leaders and the City of Johannesburg’s executive government to address the deepening crisis in the region. The intervention, which comes amid growing concerns over service delivery failures and infrastructure collapse, has been met with mixed reactions. Political analyst Angelo Fick, speaking on Radio Islam International’s ASRI Report program, raised concerns about the timing of the president’s involvement.

Fick noted that Ramaphosa’s engagement with Gauteng leadership appears to be linked to political considerations rather than a genuine commitment to resolving long-standing issues. He pointed out that in previous election cycles, the president had undertaken symbolic acts, such as taking a Metrorail train journey in Pretoria to highlight public transport inefficiencies. Similar interventions, he argued, seem to be driven by election strategies and public relations rather than lasting solutions for residents.

“There is a local government election in 2026 and it’s also about public relations management,” Fick said, explaining that the ANC’s poor performance in the 2024 general election means the president’s intervention is more a way to garner support for the party than addressing real problems.

He also highlighted that Johannesburg is set to host the G20 summit at the end of the year, adding pressure on government officials to present a well-functioning city to international visitors. “It seems there is a habit of preparing the house for guests but not worrying about the people who live inside the house the rest of the time,” he said.

Fick also pointed out the failure of provincial oversight structures, emphasising that Johannesburg’s municipal government is required to report to the provincial Treasury every 30 days. Despite this, little has been done to address concerns that residents have raised for over a decade. Fick pointed out that the city has an R80 billion budget annually, yet service delivery remains in crisis which indicates that the oversight mechanisms that should ensure accountability have largely failed.

Another key issue is the dysfunctionality of Johannesburg’s coalition government, where various political parties control different service divisions without cohesive oversight. “Critics have pointed out that the coalition partners have simply divvied up the service provision divisions of the municipal government,” Fick said, which has led to a lack of accountability and deteriorating infrastructure- something that affects residents the most.

The crisis is exacerbated by natural disasters, with heavy rains leading to flooding and road closures across Johannesburg and the greater Gauteng region. This has raised concerns about the city’s ability to manage its infrastructure before the G20 summit and ahead of the 2026 local government elections. “Infrastructure issues cannot be resolved in just a few months. Johannesburg’s track record on fixing problems is poor, as seen with unresolved disasters such as the Bree Street explosion and the social housing fire in the CBD,” Fick remarked.

The deteriorating state of the city is no longer limited to historically neglected townships and peri-urban areas but has now spread to the wealthier northern suburbs. Issues such as sinkholes, illegal borehole drilling affecting major transport routes, and frequent power and water outages have brought the city’s failures into sharper focus. “Even the wealthiest residents, who contribute significantly in rates and taxes, are now experiencing the consequences of decades of mismanagement,” Fick warned.

Looking forward, Fick emphasised the need for urgent government intervention and a rethinking of municipal management strategies. He noted that extreme weather events, a consequence of climate change, will only exacerbate existing infrastructure failures, leading to public health concerns. “Between the provincial health department and Johannesburg’s mismanagement of water infrastructure, we may see disease outbreaks if these issues are not addressed urgently,” he cautioned.

The prospect of introducing a regional governance approach has been floated by the president’s office, suggesting that municipalities may need to operate under stricter provincial and national oversight. “The constitution mandates cooperative governance, meaning that national and provincial government structures must play a more active role in ensuring accountability,” Fick concluded.

With local government elections looming and the world’s eyes set on Johannesburg for the G20 summit, the coming months will be a crucial test for the Ramaphosa administration. Whether this intervention will result in tangible improvements for Johannesburg’s residents or merely serve as an election campaign tool remains to be seen.

Listen to the ASRI Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.