Asivikelane service delivery impacts counter
Since March 2020
Asivikelane data exposes the hot spots where basic services need attention, and celebrates the good news where services have improved.
Asivikelane calls on Knysna and Stellenbosch municipalities to step up basic services, especially the provision and cleaning of communal toilets.
Asivikelane releases the Asivikelane Service Delivery Index for the first time. The index compares service delivery across metros in one easy number. Ekurhuleni leads the way with a score of 83%, while both Mangaung (21%) and eThekwini (36%) fall far short of delivering the three essential services to informal settlement residents in their metros.
Informal settlement residents have yet again urged local government to listen and respond to their urgent pleas for safer and more hygienic sanitation. Communities are saying that they have practical, short-term solutions that are simple for government to implement; yet able to drastically improve dignified sanitation for all.
We ask informal settlement residents themselves what sanitation they need.
In this Asivikelane Western Cape report, informal settlement residents are sending a clear message – their communities are not safe, the shared toilets are dirty and poorly located and the lack of public lighting puts them at risk of being assaulted.
The first 100 days after elections are crucial. Asivikelane looks at what new municipalities should focus on to improve basic services in informal settlements.
Asivikelane reveals that the state of toilets in some informal settlements in the Western Cape are so bad, that residents opt to use the bush instead. With local government elections happening in the next few weeks, voters should think critically about the level of service delivery in their communities.
10 million people live in informal settlements. Their services should be central to the campaign of every political party. Yet, while political parties campaign, informal settlement services stagnate and deteriorate.
Asivikelane reveals that the Western Cape is a red zone! 64% of residents reported that communal toilets are either blocked, damaged or non-functional. Alarmingly, it takes the municipality up to 3 months to fix toilets and taps say 60% of residents. The critical need for effective maintenance systems is emphasised again and especially at this crucial time as the 3rd wave of Covid-19 is underway.
IBPSA NPC
G02, Ground Floor, Park Building,
Black River Park South,
2 Fir Street, Observatory,
7925, Cape Town
+27 21 447 0019
info@asivikelane.org
Asivikelane is an initiative of International
Budget Partnership South Africa (IBPSA NPC).
Want to find out how municipalities are doing in providing basic services to informal settlements?
Help to shape a brighter future for South Africa and support the Asivikelane initiative!
Copyright 2026 l Website by Webfactory
