By Matshidiso Selebeleng
Fourteen North West municipalities are under intense scrutiny for violating the human rights of residents, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) revealed last week.
According to the Commission’s report, 14 of the province’s 19 municipalities have failed to deliver essential services, citing systemic failures in water supply, electricity provision, sanitation, refuse collection, and road maintenance—failures that collectively infringe on residents’ basic constitutional rights.
The municipalities implicated include the City of Matlosana, JB Marks Local Municipality, Maquassi Hills Local Municipality, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality, Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Mahikeng Local Municipality, Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality, Madibeng Local Municipality, Moretele Local Municipality, Moses Kotane Local Municipality, and Rustenburg Local Municipality.
These findings follow a series of complaints lodged by individuals, civic organisations, and political parties, all raising concerns about deteriorating service delivery across the province. The SAHRC says the pattern of failures reflects deep systemic issues within local governance, requiring a comprehensive response that addresses political, administrative, and social shortcomings.
“The complaints revealed deep and recurring challenges in the delivery of essential services, particularly water and sanitation, sewer management, waste collection, road maintenance, electricity supply, and stormwater infrastructure,” the report states.
“These failures have directly violated residents’ rights to dignity, access to sufficient water, sanitation, housing, movement, and an environment not harmful to health and well-being. They also undermine related rights such as access to basic education and personal security.”
Political analyst Professor Sethulego Matebesi from the University of the Free State says political parties leading these municipalities now face significant accountability pressure, as the revelations erode public trust in their capacity to govern and uphold constitutional obligations.
He adds that the crisis has fuelled instability within coalition-run councils and warns that continued deterioration could worsen living conditions, particularly for vulnerable communities.
“The erosion of democracy becomes the order of the day as citizens lose faith in local government, weakening democratic participation and accountability,” said Matebesi. “South Africa already has a high prevalence of social protests. Expected economic decline and governance failures can lead to additional protests, violence, and instability.”
Matebesi described the SAHRC’s findings as a wake-up call for all stakeholders to prioritise human rights and restore effective governance.
The report stresses the need for stronger oversight, improved accountability mechanisms, greater capacity within municipalities, and collaborative efforts to address deepening socio-economic challenges.
In response, the SAHRC has instructed all implicated municipalities to deploy operational teams to resolve sewage spillages within 24 hours of reporting and to submit 30-day progress reports on remedial actions taken.
Municipalities must also develop and implement costed, time-bound action plans within 90 days to permanently address service delivery failures and repair environmental damage caused by sewage leaks, waste accumulation, and illegal dumping—steps the Commission says are essential to restoring the dignity of residents.
