“A new Ipsos survey reveals that only one-quarter of South Africans over the age of 18 trust their current local governments, while 55% of registered voters express distrust ahead of the November 4, 2026, municipal elections. Poor service delivery, unreliable water and sanitation, deteriorating infrastructure and concerns about municipal competence are emerging as major influences on public opinion and voter expectations.”
te that these everyday experiences are influencing perceptions of political institutions. With only 25% of adults expressing trust in their current local governments, municipalities face a substantial credibility challenge.
Meanwhile, the 55% distrust recorded among registered voters suggests that dissatisfaction extends beyond a small group of politically disengaged citizens. It represents a considerable section of the electorate whose voting decisions may be influenced by municipal performance.
However, distrust should not automatically be interpreted as support for a particular opposition party. Voters can simultaneously reject incumbent administrations, remain uncertain about alternatives and demand better governance from whichever political organisation eventually assumes office.
This distinction is particularly important during elections, when political parties often interpret dissatisfaction as evidence of electoral support.
Service Delivery Shapes Public Perceptions
The Ipsos research identifies poor service delivery and deteriorating infrastructure as important reasons behind declining municipal confidence.
Water and sanitation remain particularly significant concerns because they directly affect public health, household activities, education and economic productivity.
According to the survey, 68% of registered voters agree that poor sanitation resulting from water interruptions presents a serious health risk in their communities.
This finding demonstrates how infrastructure failures can become broader political issues. When water shortages affect households, residents may question whether municipal authorities understand their responsibilities or possess the necessary technical capacity to fulfil them.
Similarly, 66% of registered voters believe current local governments do not sufficiently understand the importance of maintaining infrastructure required for reliable service delivery.
Infrastructure maintenance frequently receives less public attention than major construction projects. Nevertheless, functioning water systems, maintained roads, reliable electricity infrastructure and effective sanitation networks are essential to municipal performance.
The public’s concern therefore reflects an expectation that municipalities should prioritise practical improvements rather than concentrate exclusively on visible development announcements.
Public Dissatisfaction Extends Beyond Water and Sanitation
The survey also highlights broader concerns about governance, accountability and compliance with regulations.
Approximately 66% of registered voters agree that South Africans increasingly disregard traffic regulations, including traffic lights and speed restrictions.
Although traffic enforcement responsibilities are distributed across different institutions, perceptions of lawlessness can influence how residents evaluate the overall functioning of their communities.
Broken traffic lights, dangerous roads, inconsistent enforcement and deteriorating public spaces may contribute to an impression that municipal systems are becoming less effective.
These experiences can reinforce public frustration when residents believe that authorities are failing to address problems that directly affect their safety and daily lives.
Consequently, municipal trust is not determined exclusively by whether a council provides particular services. It can also reflect citizens’ wider assessments of institutional effectiveness, leadership, responsibility and accountability.
Voters Demand Technical Competence
One of the important findings emerging from the Ipsos study concerns public expectations for future municipal administrations.
Nearly 69% of registered voters agree that newly elected local governments should prioritise appointing skilled and experienced artisans and technicians after the elections.
This preference suggests that many citizens recognise the importance of professional capacity in municipal administration.
Municipalities require qualified engineers, water specialists, electricians, plumbers, infrastructure technicians, financial professionals and administrative personnel to maintain essential services.
Political leadership alone cannot repair water networks, restore damaged infrastructure or ensure that sanitation systems operate reliably.
The public’s emphasis on technical competence therefore represents an important message to political parties: municipal recovery requires practical expertise, effective management and institutional continuity.
It also raises questions about how political appointments, recruitment practices and municipal staffing decisions affect service delivery.
Residents increasingly expect local administrations to demonstrate that public institutions possess the personnel and organisational capacity necessary to deliver essential services.
Municipal Elections Become a Test of Accountability
The November 4 elections provide citizens with an opportunity to evaluate municipal leadership and determine which political organisations should govern their communities.
However, electoral accountability extends beyond removing incumbent parties.
Voters must also assess whether alternative political organisations have credible plans for improving municipal performance, strengthening financial management and addressing infrastructure challenges.
The elections are particularly important because South Africa’s municipal political environment has become increasingly competitive.
The African National Congress faces pressure following its loss of a national parliamentary majority in 2024 and declining support in several municipalities.
Opposition parties are attempting to convert dissatisfaction with service delivery into electoral gains, particularly in major metropolitan areas.
Nevertheless, the formation of coalition governments means that electoral victories may not automatically translate into stable administrations.
Municipal coalitions require cooperation between political organisations that frequently disagree about policy priorities, leadership arrangements and administrative responsibilities.
Unstable governing arrangements can complicate municipal planning and undermine efforts to rebuild public confidence.
Consequently, voters are evaluating not only individual parties but also the prospects for competent and sustainable municipal leadership.
Communities Increasingly Assume Responsibilities
The broader political environment also reflects growing community involvement in addressing problems traditionally associated with government responsibilities.
A November 2 polling report published by The Common Sense, drawing on Social Research Foundation research, found that 85% of voters agree that communities are increasingly taking on responsibilities that government has failed to fulfil.
The same report found that 49% of voters trust private citizens and local businesses more than municipalities to maintain roads, supply water, collect refuse and perform other municipal responsibilities.
These findings suggest that citizens are increasingly willing to consider community-based approaches to addressing service delivery challenges.
Community organisations, neighbourhood initiatives and local businesses can contribute to maintaining public spaces, supporting vulnerable households and identifying infrastructure problems.
However, such initiatives should complement rather than replace properly functioning municipal institutions.
Municipalities remain legally responsible for delivering services within their mandates, and community participation cannot compensate indefinitely for inadequate public administration.
The growing involvement of citizens may therefore reflect both democratic participation and dissatisfaction with institutional performance.
Political Parties Face Pressure to Restore Confidence
The Ipsos findings create significant implications for political parties campaigning in the municipal elections.
Incumbent administrations must explain their performance and demonstrate how they intend to address infrastructure deterioration, service interruptions and municipal weaknesses.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, must establish that their proposals are realistic, financially sustainable and supported by capable leadership.
Public opinion suggests that promises of improved service delivery will require more than campaign messaging.
Residents increasingly expect municipalities to demonstrate measurable progress through reliable services, transparent financial management and effective maintenance programmes.
Political organisations that fail to communicate credible solutions risk losing the confidence of voters who are already dissatisfied with existing institutions.
The elections may therefore become an important test of whether political parties can translate public frustration into practical governance improvements.
Trust Will Depend on Performance After Election Day
The central message emerging from the Ipsos study is that municipal trust remains fragile and that public confidence cannot be restored through political communication alone.
Citizens want functioning infrastructure, reliable water supplies, adequate sanitation, maintained roads and municipal officials who understand the practical requirements of service delivery.
They also expect greater accountability when public institutions fail to meet their responsibilities.
For newly elected councils, rebuilding trust will require a sustained commitment to improving municipal performance.
Financial discipline, professional recruitment, infrastructure maintenance, transparent decision-making and effective community engagement will be essential components of that process.
The elections may change political leadership in several municipalities, but institutional recovery will require considerably more than a change in councillors or mayors.
Ultimately, citizens will judge their governments through the quality of services delivered and the improvements experienced in their communities.
Conclusion
South Africa’s municipal elections are taking place against a backdrop of declining trust, public dissatisfaction and rising expectations for effective local government.
The Ipsos findings indicate that confidence in municipal institutions has become an important public opinion issue, with service delivery, infrastructure maintenance and technical competence emerging as central concerns.
For political parties, the challenge is to demonstrate that they can translate electoral support into improved governance.
For municipalities, the challenge is to rebuild credibility through reliable services, professional administration and accountability.
For voters, the elections provide an opportunity to express their expectations and demand stronger institutions.
The ultimate measure of success will not be the promises made during campaigns but whether communities experience meaningful improvements after the election.
Restoring municipal trust will require consistent performance, competent leadership and a renewed commitment to delivering the essential services on which South Africans depend.
