How Do You Celebrate 114 Years While Service Delivery Crumbles?

As the African National Congress marks its 114th anniversary, the celebrations once again reflect on history, legacy and longevity.

Yet across Komani, Whittlesea, Dordrecht and surrounding towns, and the many villages in between, residents are asking a far more immediate question: what does that celebration mean in daily life?

Because for many communities, daily reality tells a very different story.

Pothole-ridden roads stretch across towns and rural routes alike. In some areas, road surfaces have deteriorated to the point where travel is slow, unsafe and costly for motorists, public transport operators and emergency services. These are not hidden problems — they are visible, travelled and endured every day.

Water supply interruptions have become a recurring experience, not an exception. From town centres to outlying villages, residents frequently report dry taps, inconsistent pressure and long periods without clear communication. For households, schools, clinics and small businesses, this uncertainty affects health, livelihoods and dignity.

Electricity reliability is equally fragile. Power interruptions disrupt businesses, affect food storage, compromise safety and deepen frustration. In rural areas especially, outages often last longer, with communities feeling forgotten once the lights go off.

These conditions are not limited to one town or one ward. They cut across communities, linking Komani, Whittlesea, Dordrecht and surrounding villages in shared experience — and shared concern.

This is not a denial of history. The ANC’s contribution to South Africa’s freedom is undeniable and deserves recognition. But liberation history does not insulate a governing party from accountability. Past achievements cannot permanently excuse present-day performance.

What unsettles many residents is the growing contrast between political celebration and municipal reality. While anniversaries are marked with speeches and banners, communities continue to navigate broken infrastructure and unreliable basic services.

Criticism of governance is not an attack on democracy. It is part of democracy. Residents are not demanding luxury or perfection — they are asking for functional roads, dependable water supply, stable electricity and honest communication when things go wrong.

An anniversary should be more than a celebration of survival. It should be a moment of reflection — particularly in towns and villages where service delivery appears uneven and progress feels slow.

If the ANC is to honour its 114-year legacy in a meaningful way, that legacy must be visible not only in history books, but in streets without craters, taps that run, and homes that stay lit.

Because for communities across this region, celebration without delivery feels increasingly disconnected from reality.