Kannaland residents raise service delivery concerns
As the local government elections approach, residents of Kannaland in the Little Karoo region of the Western Cape say years of service delivery challenges and limited job opportunities have left many communities struggling to make ends meet.
From water shortages in Zoar to concerns about the declining local economy in Ladismith, residents are calling on political parties to turn their election promises into tangible improvements.
The Kannaland Municipality is home to nearly 32,000 people. Spread along parts of the scenic Route 62, it encompasses the towns of Ladismith, Calitzdorp, Vanwyksdorp and Zoar.
While agriculture is the main economic driver here, work opportunities are scarce. Farm workers only rely on seasonal work. Indigent household rates are close to 50%, fueled by poverty and unemployment.
Joslyn Johnson, who’s a community activist from Zoar, says residents here are struggling.
“Our people in Zoar are normally dependent on South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants. They work on farms for six months of the year, while the other six months are spent at home. This is usually during the winter, when we really need food. The main problem is that, when it comes to politics, we all cast our votes, but at the end of the day, the consequences come back to bite us. This is very heartbreaking for us as a community,” says a farm worker.
🚨 If you fail the people, you will be held accountable.
The DA has laid criminal charges over alleged financial mismanagement and the repeated failure of Kannaland Municipality to properly account for public money.
⚖️ Led by DA Parliamentary Leader George Michalakis, this is the first of a broader push to hold failing municipal managers accountable.
On 4 November, South Africans have the chance to vote for municipalities that work for all. 🇿🇦
🔗 Find out more: https://t.co/abESLCW1c7
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) August 21, 2026
For the longest time, this part of the region has faced water insecurity. Droughts are frequent. The Little Karoo’s dry climate, combined with pressure on existing infrastructure, has placed the municipality’s water supply under strain.
Water interruptions in Zoar are frequent. Very often its the municipality or Gift of the Givers that deliver water to residents.
In Ladismith, residents and business owners face their own concerns about the town’s economic prospects. Business owner, George Laubscher, says unreliable municipal services and a struggling local economy could discourage new investment, and put existing jobs at risk.
“As estate agents, we have seen a dramatic decline in property enquiries in Ladismith. Water tariffs for businesses and municipal property taxes have increased tremendously, which will discourage anyone from coming to Ladismith to open a business,” says Laubscher.
This election will put the municipality’s political leadership under scrutiny.
Kannaland has a seven-seat municipal council.
Following the 2021 local government elections, the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa, or Independent Civic Organisation of South (ICOSA), secured three seats, the African National Congress (ANC) two, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Kannaland Independent Party each won one seat.
🚰 Kannaland, our Mayoral Candidate Joslyn Johnson is here to make sure everyone gets water as they deserve!
It’s time to upgrade from empty promises to actual water in your taps!
Check your registration details:
https://t.co/weCwdhNe9U#VoteDA 💙 https://t.co/Cg8mA24sNh
— DA Western Cape (@WesternCapeDA) February 14, 2026
Community members Lyndon September and his mother Vivienne, say they want to see some changes.
“At the moment, the only places offering employment in Ladismith are the two cheese factories. There are not many job opportunities in our town. As a young person, I believe that after the elections, we can expect more employment opportunities. We hope that political parties will deliver on their promises and look after the youth,” says September.
“We want to see improvements in our town, with more jobs created for the youth, roads repaired, and action taken to address power and water outages. These are issues we have been complaining about for years, but nothing has been done about them,” says September.
ICOSA has controlled the municipality, both outright and through coalition partners, on and off, since August 2006.
RELATED VIDEO – Kannaland Municipality | Gift of the Givers intervenes in water crisis
