ANC TIME IS UP!

ANC Run Johannesburg, For Now!Johannesburg remains South Africa’s economic heartbeat, yet for many residents it feels like a city in constant crisis. Potholed roads, frequent water shortages, sewage spills, unreliable power and high crime have become everyday frustrations. After years under African National Congress leadership, the question on many lips is straightforward. Have the ANC done such a poor job that they simply must be replaced?Ordinary people in suburbs and townships alike see the same problems. Rubbish collection is patchy, traffic lights stay broken for months and the murder rate hovers far above acceptable levels. Unemployment in the city sits above the national average of 32.7 per cent, leaving young people especially angry and without hope. These are not abstract statistics. They are the reality families face when trying to run a small business, get to work safely or simply keep their homes liveable. The ANC has governed Johannesburg for most of the post-apartheid era, yet service delivery has steadily declined. Political infighting, coalition chaos and repeated changes of mayor have left the city unstable. Residents watch as billions disappear into mismanagement while basic infrastructure crumbles. It is little wonder that trust has evaporated and calls for change grow louder ahead of the 2026 local elections.What Happens When Others Take Charge?Instead of focusing only on the ANC’s record, it helps to look at places where opposition parties have been given a chance. The results are instructive.In Cape Town, long governed by the Democratic Alliance, the city consistently earns clean audits, maintains better roads and delivers more reliable services. Residents there enjoy higher employment rates, clearer investment and a sense that local government actually works. Midvaal, another DA-run municipality in Gauteng, has achieved over a decade of clean audits and steady progress on infrastructure. These are not perfect places, but they show what focused, accountable leadership can achieve even with limited resources.The contrast with Johannesburg is stark. Where the DA or multi-party coalitions have stepped in elsewhere, there has often been quicker recovery in financial management and service standards. This suggests the problem is not simply money or history, but governance itself. Cities run with tighter financial controls, less cadre deployment and a genuine focus on delivery tend to serve their people better.Time for Rapid ChangeSouth Africans are patient, but patience has limits when children walk through sewage on their way to school and businesses close because of crime or power failures. Johannesburg deserves better. As Africa’s richest city, it should set the standard, not lag behind.The ANC’s long hold on power has not translated into better lives for most residents. Looking at opposition-led areas shows that different leadership can produce different outcomes. Cleaner governance, honest spending and real accountability are possible when parties know they can be voted out if they fail.The upcoming local elections offer a clear moment for change. Everyday people across Johannesburg have the power to demand more. Whether through stronger opposition voices, better coalitions or simply voting for proven delivery, the message is growing. The city cannot afford more of the same.Johannesburg has enormous potential. Its people are resilient, its economy is dynamic and its future could be bright. But that future requires leaders who put residents first. After years of disappointment, many believe the time for rapid, decisive change has arrived. The question is no longer whether the ANC must go in Johannesburg. It is whether voters will finally make it happen