Kannaland residents demand action on water and jobs before elections
Residents of the Kannaland Municipality in the Little Karoo say water shortages, a weak local economy and unreliable services leave communities struggling. They want political parties to keep their promises ahead of the local government elections.
Kannaland has nearly 32,000 residents, and the fact that close to 50% of households are indigent shows how hard times are. Joslyn Johnson, a community activist from Zoar, represents residents who rely on Gift of the Givers for water deliveries.
George Laubscher, a business owner and estate agent in Ladismith, said unreliable services and a struggling economy could discourage new investment and put jobs at risk. He said water tariffs for businesses and municipal property taxes have risen tremendously. In his words: "As estate agents, we have seen a dramatic decline in property enquiries in Ladismith."
Lyndon September, a community member in Ladismith, said power and water outages and bad roads have drawn complaints for years with nothing done. He expects more jobs after the elections.
The Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa has controlled the municipality on and off since 2006. After the 2021 elections it held three of the seven council seats, the ANC held two, and the DA and the Kannaland Independent Party held one each.
Key facts
- Who
- Joslyn Johnson (community activist from Zoar); George Laubscher (business owner and estate agent in Ladismith); Lyndon September (community member in Ladismith); Vivienne September (community member in Ladismith, mother of Lyndon September)
- What
- Ahead of the local government elections, residents of the Kannaland Municipality raise concerns about water shortages, a declining local economy, scarce jobs and unreliable services, and call on political parties to deliver on their promises.
- When
- 24 October 2026
- Where
- Kannaland, Little Karoo, Western Cape
- Status
- Reported