Edition July 2026

The month of July is dedicated to honouring the enduring legacy of our first democratic President Nelson Mandela, whose life was defined by selfless service to the people of South Africa. This annual observance is not just a symbolic tribute but is a reminder of the values that should guide every public servant.

Madiba's legacy calls on us to demonstrate, through our actions, a steadfast commitment to serving the public with integrity, accountability and compassion. It reminds us that government's legitimacy is earned not through words, but through tangible action that protects human dignity, advances accountability and places people at the centre of every decision.

These values are firmly rooted in the principles of Batho Pele, which call on us to listen actively, communicate clearly, act with professionalism and courtesy, uphold service standards and provide redress where we fall short.

At a time when citizen confidence in public institutions is under increasing pressure, our responsibility as public servants should move from commitment to credible delivery and from intention to visible impact.

We must also make deliberate use of the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms already in place across government to identify gaps and strengthen performance where it does not meet the required standards. One such mechanism is the National Quantitative Tracker Report produced by the GCIS, which provides critical insights to guide evidence-based decision-making. 

The latest National Quantitative Tracker Report (Quarter 4, 2025/26) presents a sobering reflection of public sentiment. It indicates that 79% of respondents believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, while only 18% hold a positive view. This underscores the need for strengthened communication and increased visibility of government interventions and service delivery outcomes.

This finding must be understood as a clear call to action. Citizens are forming their judgments based on lived experience – whether services are reliable, whether leadership is visible, whether institutions are responsive and whether government acts with integrity and urgency.

As we prepare for the 2026 Local Government Elections, rebuilding public trust must become a deliberate and sustained programme of action across the public sector. While elections remain a cornerstone of our democracy, trust is strengthened every day through services that function effectively, institutions that listen and respond, and public servants who consistently uphold the dignity of those they serve.

For citizens to actively participate in democratic processes, they must have confidence that these processes deliver meaningful benefits in their everyday lives.

For many South Africans, government is experienced most directly through the services that shape daily life – clean water, sanitation, refuse removal, electricity, safe roads, clinics, schools, housing administration, and responsive public offices. When these services are reliable and accessible, they affirm dignity and reinforce confidence in the capability of the State. When they fail, frustration deepens and public trust is eroded.

The findings from the Tracker Report reinforces the close relationship. Encouragingly, citizens continue to recognise progress in several key service areas, with 50% expressing positive views on access to clean drinking water, 49% on solid waste removal, and 47% on the reliability of electricity supply.

However, the findings also highlight critical areas requiring attention. Confidence in the maintenance of municipal infrastructure remains low at 35%, while perceptions of community inclusion and consultation in development processes stand at just 31%.

These findings reveal an important reality – service delivery is not only about the provision of infrastructure. It is equally about consistent maintenance, clear and continuous communication, institutional responsiveness, and the extent to which communities feel heard and included in decisions that affect their lives.

Public trust in institutions remains under pressure, particularly at local government level. 

This points to the need for a coordinated government-wide response that focuses on improving service delivery outcomes, strengthening accountability, demonstrating responsive leadership, and communicating progress more effectively. Public confidence is unlikely to improve through messaging alone; it must be reinforced by visible improvements in the quality of services and the lived experiences of citizens.

The Tracker Report identifies important areas of strength that demonstrate government's capacity to deliver meaningful outcomes. Public approval remains relatively stronger in the provision of social grants, efforts to combat and treat HIV and AIDS and TB, and the delivery of basic education.

These achievements show that sustained progress is possible when systems are well-coordinated, implementation is focused and institutions are held accountable for results. The challenge now is to replicate these success factors in areas where public confidence remains low, particularly in addressing corruption and crime, maintaining critical infrastructure and improving the quality and responsiveness of frontline services.

These findings reinforce the importance of building a capable, ethical and developmental state. A capable state plans effectively, maintains infrastructure, uses data to solve problems and equips public servants with the skills and necessary support to deliver. An ethical state acts decisively against corruption, protects public resources and enforces consequence management. A developmental state reduces inequality, expands opportunity and ensures that no one is left behind.

Government interventions, such as the ongoing review of the White Paper on Local Government are therefore critical reform opportunities to address the root causes of municipal dysfunction and strengthen the sphere closest to communities. This review presents a timely chance to align policy with the realities faced by municipalities on the ground. The White Paper must support a system that is fit for purpose, financially sustainable, professionally led and accountable.

Most importantly, it must translate into measurable improvements in citizens’ lived experience, including better governance, stronger accountability, improved infrastructure management, more meaningful community participation and more reliable service delivery.

Citizens also hold clear views on the type and quality of leadership demonstrated by public servants. The Tracker Report indicates that only 29% of citizens believe that premiers and mayors are performing their duties effectively, while just 27% feel that ward councillors are doing their jobs well, reflecting relatively low levels of public confidence. 

These ratings can improve if public leadership becomes more visible, accessible and accountable. 

Despite low levels of trust in institutions and government performance, a majority of South Africans continue to demonstrate resilience and hope. The Tracker Report shows that 51% of South Africans remain proud to be South African and 58% are confident about a shared, positive future. This national pride provides a vital foundation for renewal. 

As we mark Mandela Month, let us recommit to the discipline of delivery. Public trust is not rebuilt through promises made – but through promises kept in every ward, every service centre, every repaired road, every functioning tap and every citizen treated with dignity. The task before us is clear: to translate hope into action and action into results that improve the lives of all South Africans.

Batho Pele!