‘Serve the people, not yourselves,’ Ramaphosa slams North West officials over service delivery failures, corruption

President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a stern warning to government officials in the North West, reminding them they were elected to serve the people, not their own interests, as communities continue to face service delivery failures.

Ramaphosa said the failure to deliver basic services infringes on the constitutional rights of citizens.

His remarks come just days after the Ditsobotla Local Municipality, plagued by corruption and dysfunction, was placed under administration for the ninth time.

Speaking on Friday, September 12, 2025, the President led a Joint National and North West Provincial Executive engagement aimed at improving intergovernmental coordination and addressing local government failures. 

The session forms part of a broader series of engagements between Ramaphosa and provincial governments under the priorities of the 7th Administration.

It was the seventh such engagement following similar meetings in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape.

Ramaphosa said that while the province has made progress in growing public infrastructure, major challenges remain.

“Communities are bearing the brunt of instability at local government level,” he said.

“Municipalities have repeatedly been placed under administration - Ditsobotla Local Municipality being the most recent of these.”

Ealier this week, the municipality, which serves thousands of residents in and around Lichtenburg, was placed under administration for the ninth time, over years of financial mismanagement, service delivery collapse and deepening political instability.

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed the appointment of a six-member intervention team under Section 139(7) of the Constitution. 

He said the move followed repeated failed attempts by the provincial government to stabilise the municipality.

A specialised task force, including the SAPS, State Security Agency and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), will investigate longstanding allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct.

Residents of the municipality continue to endure erratic water supply, uncollected refuse, potholed roads, dysfunctional infrastructure and pervasive corruption.

Ramaphosa vowed that national and provincial authorities would intervene decisively.

“The national executive, working with the provincial government, is determined to arrest the current situation and turn the municipality around so that it once again delivers consistent services and enjoys the respect of communities.”

He issued a clear warning to officials.

“We were all elected to serve the people and not our own interests. Failure to deliver services is an infringement of the basic rights of citizens.”

Ramaphosa also raised concern over water shortages nationally. 

“Let me address the issue of running water as an example. No one should go more than a day without running water while there is a deafening silence from the municipal offices about when water will be restored.”

This comes after residents of Westbury, Coronationville and Ivory Park in Tembisa staged violent protests over water outages that have persisted for more than seven years.

Ramaphosa said the National Treasury’s 2024 provincial socio-economic review, noted an increase in poverty levels and a decline in household access to basic services such as water.

“We need to recognise that fiscal constraints are holding back a number of projects and programmes, particularly at municipal level,” he said.

“But nothing can excuse poor governance, maladministration, financial mismanagement, wastage and corruption.

“If a municipality is put under administration, we need to know what the elected representatives and municipal officials are doing to earn their salaries.”

He also addressed broader economic challenges, including the impact of 30% US tariffs on South African exports, saying these demand a stronger focus on the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) three strategic priorities.

The priorities include driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living and building a capable, ethical and developmental state

“These priorities must find expression in plans for action at both provincial and local government.”

Ramaphosa called for a rethink of service delivery and investment models.

“We need to unlock the blockages in establishing a Special Economic Zone in Moses Kotane Municipality, reintroduce the use of railway routes, and expand the airports in Mahikeng and Pilanesberg.

“We need an urgent relook at the current delivery model to enable more efficient regulatory approval and investment activation.”

Ramaphosa said efforts must be made on infrastructure development to support high-impact projects across the province’s four economic corridors.

“We need to seize on the great opportunities that exist to develop agriculture, tourism and manufacturing in this province,” he said.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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