SALGA: Cllr Bheke Stofile, Address by SALGA President, during the SoNA debate, Parliament | Polity
Delegates from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) arrived at Parliament Thursday ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address with a blunt message for national leaders: municipal governments need immediate funding and a clear roadmap for the year, not more assessments of their problems.
SALGA president Lesego Makhubo and other local government representatives said chronic budget shortfalls, service delivery failures and rising community unrest are undermining basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity across towns and cities. They argue that municipalities are in a crisis and that repeated “diagnoses” of challenges without swift fiscal support have done little to solve them.
“We have heard countless reports diagnosing the issues,” Makhubo told reporters outside Parliament. “Today we say enough. Municipalities need real funding now and a roadmap that gives local government the capacity to deliver for communities.”
SALGA’s demand comes as municipalities across South Africa face mounting financial pressure, with many warning of “cash-strapped” budgets and deteriorating infrastructure. Local authorities say delays in national transfers and unclear funding commitments compound problems that have triggered protests and service delivery disruptions in previous months.
The association is calling on the presidency and Parliament to outline an actionable plan in the upcoming State of the Nation Address including guaranteed funding flows, clear performance benchmarks and measures to strengthen local administrative capacity.
While President Ramaphosa’s speech is traditionally used to set policy priorities for the year, SALGA’s intervention highlights widening frustration within local government ranks over perceived inaction and slow progress on long-standing issues.
Municipal leaders also want clarity on how the national government plans to support cities struggling to balance budgets amid high unemployment, shrinking revenues and growing demand for services. SALGA officials said they will press for a roadmap with specific timelines and responsibilities rather than broad policy language.
Analysts say SALGA’s public stance signals intensifying pressure on the national government to address fiscal governance challenges and decentralized service delivery shortcomings. Local authorities argue that without urgent funding and guidance, communities will continue to suffer from unreliable services and economic stagnation.
As lawmakers and the presidency prepare for the State of the Nation debate, SALGA’s message serves as a stark reminder that many communities are looking for immediate solutions, not further policy reviews. The coming hours could test political will to tackle local government crises head-on.
