DIEPKLOOF, SOWETO — President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing intense backlash over service delivery failures as he takes the African National Congress (ANC) campaign to the streets of Diepkloof ahead of the local government elections.
The visit highlights growing public frustration regarding unemployment, crime, and deteriorating living conditions across the region. While Ramaphosa is also scheduled to meet with professionals, business leaders, and academics at Johannesburg City Hall later in the day, the mood on the ground in Diepkloof remains decidedly hostile.
At the center of the unrest is a local hostel where residents, known for frequently taking their grievances directly to the streets, report severe infrastructure decay. Community members cite consistent electricity challenges, a lack of running water, and inhumane sanitation conditions. A primary concern is the physical state of the hostel buildings, which residents describe as actively collapsing while people are still inside.
Community leader Sanele Msibi expressed deep frustration with the current administration, noting that despite numerous protests and engagements with the government, tangible changes have been minimal.
“We are not happy at all,” Msibi stated, highlighting the immediate lack of basic utilities. When asked about the President’s campaign visit, Msibi was unequivocal in his rejection. He asserted that Ramaphosa “is good for the ANC only” and not for South Africa or the Diepkloof community.
“We don’t want to hear his lies,” Msibi added, urging the President to keep his promises within the party rather than bringing them to the hostel. “Let him keep his lies with his ANC, not here in the hostel. We don’t want him.”
Despite the anger directed at the national administration, the residents outlined a practical, phased solution to their housing crisis. Msibi suggested that the government should demolish and relocate residents gradually, proposing that authorities could demolish one block per year to allow for manageable, steady improvements.
Interestingly, while trust in the national and provincial government has eroded, the residents expressed strong confidence in a specific official identified as MMC Mabaso. According to Msibi, MMC Mabaso is the “only guy that we trust” because he is a man of his word who “talks and acts.”
The community noted that MMC Mabaso has already successfully intervened in their living conditions by demolishing specific sections of the hostel, namely the areas referred to as “Giyani” and “Madala.” For the residents, MMC Mabaso’s proven track record stands in stark contrast to the unfulfilled promises of the broader government.
As the local government elections inch closer, the stark contrast between the ANC’s campaign trail and the grim reality of Diepkloof’s hostel dwellers underscores the critical role that tangible service delivery will play in swaying voter sentiment. Whether the President will address the hostel directly or bypass the area entirely remains to be seen as the campaign continues.
