MP marks Freedom Day amid service delivery concerns
Some residents of Mpumalanga are still complaining about a lack of water and electricity
Black News 
Hundreds of people in Mpumalanga have commemorated Freedom Day in Phola, near White River. Government services were being provided outside the venue.
The celebrations this year come at a time when the country is facing a number of challenges around service delivery and while it is preparing for local government elections.
Thirty-two years into democracy, some residents of Mpumalanga are still complaining about a lack of water and electricity. Residents say an improvement in service delivery is long overdue.
FREEDOM DAY | President Cyril Ramaphosa says since the dawn of democracy, the government has steadily worked to expand access to quality health care for all. pic.twitter.com/wRXSGJm2YS
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 27, 2026
“Where we are staying, we have not had electricity for five months. We are suffering without electricity, we also do not have water, and we are struggling with everything. No one is helping us with anything. We are suffering a lot because we have to fetch water from wells. Everything is not alright,” says a resident.
“Where I’m from we have pavements now but we are still struggling with water but we are getting there,” adds another resident.
Officials of the Public Service Commission in the province also attended the celebration. The commission says government must expedite service delivery.
“We have seen our government has done a lot but we have witnessed some challenges in terms of service delivery. We are experiencing challenges in terms of corruption and people looting government coffers which should be assisting our people to close those gaps and deliver on the people’s expectations,” says Provincial Commissioner, Bheki Zulu.
WATCH | As South Africa observes Freedom Day, some citizens believe political emancipation has not translated into economic freedom, with high unemployment, a lack of opportunities, and safety concerns still plaguing the country. pic.twitter.com/YAESpoWo3a
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 27, 2026
Premier Mandla Ndlovu acknowledged that service delivery must improve.
“We were interacting with members of our communities who are telling us that they are still yearning for service delivery. They know that there is still much to be done by our government. As we celebrated 32 years of our democracy, our people know that they must respect democracy, defend it, and always go and vote at five-year intervals.,” says Ndlovu.
Ndlovu says he has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa about the allegations made by suspended provincial commissioner Smakaleng Manamela.
“The PC raised issues about our own kid Hillary Gadee, raised issues about our own brother, my own comrades. We want the culprits to be arrested because we want just families to get closure,” he adds.
Premier Ndlovu has urged residents to use their democratic rights by registering and voting in the upcoming local government elections, later this year.
