Is Ramaphosa’s service delivery gambit too little, too late?

FOLLOWING ongoing protests around the country due to a lack of service delivery, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa summoned ANC mayors and councillors to FNB Stadium in Soweto.

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According to his confidantes and comrades, the purpose of his decision was to give councillors “marching orders” so that they would not embarrass the organisation.

Intriguingly, Ramaphosa unequivocally admitted that most of the municipalities that were currently doing well were led by the DA. The same could not be said about municipalities that are led by the ANC.

He pleaded with his comrades to learn from the DA and serve their people better. Importantly, Ramaphosa instructed his councillors to act swiftly whenever there was a leaking pipe, infrastructure damage or anything that made people’s lives difficult.

Lastly, he lamented the fact that some councillors did not live within the communities they led.

Such a decision and such comments received mixed reactions, both from within the ANC and from outside. On the one hand, some applauded Ramaphosa for his rationality and for being mindful of the current situation in the country. They hailed him as a good leader who responded to prevailing situations and provided astute leadership.

On the other hand, there were some who raised questions about such a decision and questioned Ramaphosa's honesty and rationality. In their view, the decision was taken too late after the damage had already been done. Even Reverend Frank Chikane, who is one of the ANC stalwarts, stood on the fence. He began by praising Ramaphosa for convening such a meeting. However, he went on to say that he wished that the meeting had happened earlier.

What do we make of Ramaphosa’s decision? This is a question that has many ramifications. To address it properly, we must keep emotions aside and deal with the reality that everyone is aware of. In so doing, a series of questions begs for attention. Among them are the following: