{"id":818889,"date":"2025-03-31T10:44:36","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T08:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=818889"},"modified":"2025-03-31T10:44:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T08:44:42","slug":"why-south-africa-needs-competent-local-government-to-unlock-economic-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/industry-news\/818889\/why-south-africa-needs-competent-local-government-to-unlock-economic-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Why South Africa needs competent local government to unlock economic growth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>South Africa&#8217;s future hinges on its local governments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.da.org.za\/local-gov-candidate-apply?utm_source=BusinessTech&amp;utm_medium=Article&amp;utm_term=March+2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here to apply to be a DA candidate in the 2026 Local Government Elections.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Ever wondered why Gauteng&#8217;s unemployment rate is 75% higher than that of the Western Cape?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or why nearly half of all jobs created in the last two quarters have been in the DA-led Western Cape?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or why Johannesburg&#8217;s unemployment rate is 35% higher than Cape Town\u2019s, even though more people continue to move to the Mother City and away from the City of Gold?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer is clear: competent local government matters. This is not an accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take Johannesburg, for example.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite its vast resources, it struggles to keep basic services running, such as traffic lights.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, down the road in Midvaal, a DA-run municipality, progress is being made towards energy independence, with plans to break free from Eskom.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Midvaal also stands as a model of good governance in Gauteng, achieving its 10th successive clean audit and attracting over R1.3 billion in investment under DA Mayor Peter Teixeira\u2019s leadership.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a direct result of competent governance\u2014something the ANC-run municipalities, including Johannesburg, have sorely failed to provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Good governance drives growth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does this matter for South Africa?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because good governance drives growth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Businesses want to invest in municipalities that offer reliable services, quality infrastructure, and a transparent, accountable administration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Western Cape and Midvaal are prime examples of how good local government attracts investments, creates jobs, and fosters a better quality of life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In contrast, municipalities that fail to deliver essential services &#8211; like Johannesburg, where residents often face power outages and service interruptions &#8211; are a barrier to economic development.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without reliable local governments, businesses hesitate to invest, and the prospects of job creation dim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>National government failure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The importance of good governance is even more evident when looking at the state of national government failure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember when President Ramaphosa had to apologise at the G20 summit because of South Africa\u2019s embarrassing state of decay?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the country\u2019s leaders presented a dilapidated infrastructure, DA-run municipalities like Cape Town were able to shield South Africans from two stages of ANC-led load shedding, proving that local government can work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Importance of local governance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Local government is the frontline of effective governance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is here where services should be delivered to the people in line with the Constitution, and where the difference is felt and seen most directly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local governance is where communities experience the tangible outcomes of leadership &#8211; whether that\u2019s in the form of a working road, a new park, or the simple assurance that their water supply will be consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a councillor is not an easy job.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It comes with immense responsibility and the pressure of ensuring residents\u2019 needs are met, but it is also incredibly rewarding.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is about making a real difference in people&#8217;s lives and showing them that effective, ethical leadership can bring about change.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Become a DA candidate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The DA is proud to offer the chance for individuals committed to good governance to step forward and become the leaders South Africa needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local government is about more than just managing services &#8211; it is the foundation of economic growth and the key to unlocking a prosperous future for all South Africans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we are to change the trajectory of our country, we need competent, ethical local governments that can deliver.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The DA has shown that it\u2019s possible. Now, it\u2019s up to all of us to make sure every community can thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2026 Local Government Elections are an opportunity to shift South Africa towards a future of growth, stability, and opportunity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apply to become a candidate today and be part of the solution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.da.org.za\/local-gov-candidate-apply?utm_source=BusinessTech&amp;utm_medium=Article&amp;utm_term=March+2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Visit candidate-apply.da.org.za to learn more.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The DA offers the chance for individuals committed to good governance to step forward and become the leaders South Africa needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":818890,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10459],"tags":[1329,22171],"class_list":["post-818889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-news","tag-da","tag-da-candidate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=818889"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818889\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":818891,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818889\/revisions\/818891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/818890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=818889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=818889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=818889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}