Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Roy Jankielsohn MPL, and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. The Afrikaans version of the statement is below.
The Democratic Alliance notes the findings of the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Local Government Report Card 2026, which confirms what Free State residents have experienced for years, municipalities in the province are failing to deliver basic services.
The report paints a bleak picture for the province. The five Free State municipalities assessed all received poor ratings, with Maluti-a-Phofung ranked last in the country among the 50 municipalities assessed, while Matjhabeng, Mangaung, Metsimaholo and Dihlabeng also performed among the worst.
This is not just a report card, it is a reflection of the daily reality facing residents who endure collapsing roads, unreliable water and electricity services, failing sanitation systems and municipalities that are unable to create an environment for economic growth and job creation.
The report also proves that municipal decline is not inevitable. Several DA-run municipalities rank among the best-performing in South Africa, demonstrating that accountable leadership and a commitment to service delivery produce better outcomes for residents. Significantly, uMngeni Municipality, one of the municipalities most recently won by the DA, now ranks among the country’s top-performing municipalities. It is further proof that when voters choose the DA, change can happen in a single term.
As South Africans prepare to vote in the upcoming Local Government Elections, this report is a reminder that local government matters. Every vote has the power to determine whether our communities continue down the path of decline or choose a future built on capable, honest government.
The DA has a proven track record of delivering where it governs. We call on every voter in the Free State to use the 4 November elections to bring real change to their communities by voting for a municipal government that works.
Munisipaliteite in die Vrystaat misluk, maar kiesers het die mag om dit te verander
Die Demokratiese Alliansie (DA) neem kennis van die bevindinge in die FW de Klerk-stigting se Local Government Report Card 2026 (Verslagkaart oor Plaaslike Regering 2026). Hierdie verslag bevestig wat inwoners van die Vrystaat reeds jare lank ervaar, dat munisipaliteite in die provinsie, versuim om basiese dienste te lewer.
Die verslag skets ‘n somber prentjie vir die provinsie. Die vyf Vrystaatse munisipaliteite wat geëvalueer is, het almal swak graderings ontvang; met Maluti-a-Phofung laaste op die ranglys van die 50 munisipaliteite wat beoordeel is, terwyl Matjhabeng, Mangaung, Metsimaholo en Dihlabeng ook onder die swakste presteerders is.
Die verslag is nie bloot net ‘n verslagkaart nie; dit weerspieël die daaglikse werklikheid van inwoners wat met vervalde paaie, onbetroubare water- en elektrisiteitsdienste, sanitasiestelsels wat misluk, en munisipaliteite wat nie in staat is om ‘n omgewing vir ekonomiese groei en werkskepping te skep nie moet saamleef.
Die verslag bewys ook dat munisipale verval nie onvermydelik is nie. Verskeie munisipaliteite wat deur die DA bestuur word, tel onder die bestes in Suid-Afrika. Dit bewys dat verantwoordbare leierskap en ‘n verbintenis tot dienslewering beter uitkomste vir inwoners tot gevolg het. Dit is betekenisvol dat die uMngeni-munisipaliteit – een van die munisipaliteite wat die DA onlangs gewen het – nou onder die land se bes presterende munisipaliteite tel. Dit is verdere bewys dat verandering binne ‘n enkele termyn kan plaasvind wanneer kiesers vir die DA stem.
Terwyl Suid-Afrikaners voorberei om in die komende plaaslike regeringsverkiesing te stem, dien hierdie verslag as ‘n herinnering dat plaaslike regering saak maak. Elke stem het die krag om te bepaal of ons gemeenskappe verder gaan verval, en of daar vir hulle ‘n toekoms van bekwame, eerlike regering gaan wees.
Die DA het ‘n beproefde rekord van dienslewering waar die party regeer. Ons doen ‘n beroep op elke kieser in die Vrystaat om die verkiesing op 4 November te gebruik om werklike verandering in hul gemeenskappe teweeg te bring deur te stem vir ‘n munisipale regering wat werk.