Saving South Africa – Lessons from the uMngeni municipality success story

This is the tale of how Chris Pappas and Sandile Mnikathi, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of uMngeni, have turned around a near-unsalvageable situation in their municipality in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. It is the story of what can be achieved when service delivery, good governance, and fiscal prudence are prioritized by leaders in government. The previous sentence under ordinary circumstances would not make for an enticing advertisement, but, after 30 years of mismanagement and the scourge of corruption, many South Africans have forgotten what local government should look like. This is especially true in KwaZulu-Natal, where the culture of political violence, patronage, and party above people has been deeply embedded. That is what makes this story remarkable – two young South Africans battling against extreme odds, exacerbated by an inherited bureaucracy of cadres and corrupt and inept officials, to deliver a turnaround and, perhaps most importantly, hope.

The book reads like a long-form interview. I enjoyed the access the reader is granted to the personalities behind the personas, both of whom enjoy plenty of media attention. The two are both products of the area and this provides personal motivation for their joint rescue mission. Pappas, in particular, is an unlikely leader. His proficiency in isiZulu is famous, but I did not realize that it was not a second language but instead a second first language. This has helped him to overcome prejudice and win the hearts and minds of the people of uMngeni who would otherwise have been potentially circumspect of a white leader. Pappas is small in stature (his Zulu nickname means “mouse”) and bespectacled, but he has developed a fierce reputation as a leader with unshakeable loyalty to his values and principles.

The book delivers fascinating insights into this feel-good story. However, the book was released mid-term through the local government cycle. By the authors’ own admission, they are just starting to see their interventions come to fruition and there is still a lot of ground to cover before their full vision for uMngeni is realized. Some critics may therefore accuse this publication of being premature, and the title as overly ambitious. However, the book launch was strategically planned in the lead-up to the 2024 national and provincial elections. It was a crucial part of the Democratic Alliance’s communications around the “DA difference” – showing that where the DA governs, life is better for citizens. The DA’s track record in this regard is a pillar of their offering, and the DA’s plan to #RescueSA centers on a return to good governance and basic service delivery. Additionally, Pappas was the DA’s candidate for KZN Premier, and his campaign centered on the success achieved while wearing the mayoral chains. The meteoric and shocking rise of the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party launched KZN into a hotly contested election and unfortunately Pappas was unsuccessful in his bid. However, I am sure the residents of uMngeni are relieved to have him return his full attention to the benefit of their municipality until at least the next local elections in 2026.

This book is recommended for anyone with an interest in local politics and public service. It is also a good read for business and community leaders as there are many lessons to be learned from how Pappas and Mnikathi have pulled together a diverse and fractured team, realigned them around mutually agreed objectives, and motivated them to work together towards those common goals.