The African National Congress (ANC) has announced that service delivery in the housing, water, and energy sectors has improved since the 2021 local government elections, unveiling new initiatives and mounting a national roadshow to highlight these developments. Speaking on 16 August 2026, party officials cited recent progress as evidence of positive change, despite continued challenges and electoral losses since 2021.

Recent Initiatives And Party Strategy

In preparation for the 2026 local government elections, the ANC launched a toll-free hotline and deployed rapid response technical teams in January to address public complaints related to service failures, according to the Citizen and official party statements. On 21 April, the ANC began a national roadshow across major metro municipalities to demonstrate its service delivery achievements at community level.

Fikile Mbalula, ANC Secretary General, addressed the party’s approach by stating, “We have made people in this country with one seat, mayors. Do we have a choice? We don’t, we have to sing along. Even if we know we have capabilities, but for us to govern, we need that person.” His remarks, made during the ongoing roadshow, allude to fraught coalition politics and the party’s current position in municipal governance structures.

Electoral Performance And Ongoing Warnings

Despite the ANC’s claims of improvement, official by-election data show the party has lost around 40 municipal wards to competitors including the IFP, EFF, MK Party, PA, and DA since the 2021 polls. This trend mirrors the difficult 2021 municipal elections, where the ANC’s support was dampened by community dissatisfaction with service delivery and allegations of corruption, as acknowledged by the party at the time.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing ANC councillors on 15 September 2025, warned, “It’s either service delivery or death.” The statement highlighted ongoing internal pressure to deliver tangible improvements or risk further electoral decline. Senior ANC figures have publicly recognised that sustained underperformance in municipalities endangers the party’s national standing ahead of the 2026 elections.

Broader Context Of ANC Service Delivery Drive

The ANC’s renewed focus on service delivery follows a period of persistent complaints over basic services and deepening mistrust in local government. While the party has implemented interventions such as the hotline and technical teams, voter sentiment remains closely tied to visible infrastructure, consistent power supply, clean water access, and adequate housing. Opposition parties have capitalised on these weaknesses, eroding ANC strongholds in recent by-elections, particularly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

As the 2026 local government elections approach, the party’s leadership faces mounting scrutiny over whether recent initiatives will translate into measurable improvements and help stem losses at the polls. The ANC is expected to continue efforts to showcase successes and address shortcomings in the run-up to the vote.