Dear Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation,
The recent item refers: Green, Blue and No Drop Reports 2025: Ministry briefing
Water and Sanitation
09 June 2026

Please, we all hear for decades, the same items, the same issues with municipalities' poor performance in delivering water and sanitation services; in management of water & sanitation infrastructure. Mostly it is posed that municipal staff - require skills; municipalities need more engineers; on ageing infrastructure, etc.
But - can you first address the leadership and actual boss of the municipalities - starting with the Mayor; then Councillors, as they actually direct a municipality's operations; and they direct consumers' response, including non-payment for services. The Municipal Manager signs his/her performance contract with: the Mayor.
It is time that the root cause of municipal GOVERNANCE; and MANAGEMENT, is addressed. We need strong, skilled, educated political leaders, ready to serve the public, if they are the actual persons responsible for municipal performance.