President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday called for an end to politically motivated appointments, weak accountability, and factional battles in municipalities, and admitted the government had misjudged the damage they would do. "We underestimated how politicised appointments would open the door to corruption, malfeasance, and a lack of accountability," he said.

He was speaking in Ekurhuleni at the launch of the Revised White Paper on Local Government, which replaces the 1998 policy that set up South Africa's current system of municipal government. The launch came less than two weeks before the 4 November local government elections.

The new policy calls for municipalities to be run by professional administrators, with a clearer line between the duties of politicians and officials. Councils would have to spend money from selling electricity and water on the networks that deliver them. "Revenues from the sale of electricity and water will be ring-fenced and used to maintain infrastructure before anything else," Ramaphosa said. Municipalities owe Eskom more than R120 billion.

Councils would also no longer all carry the same responsibilities. Functions that a municipality cannot perform could be handled at regional level or assigned elsewhere, and providers of water and electricity would need a licence.

"There must be consequences when public resources are stolen, procurement is manipulated, or public duties are neglected," Ramaphosa said, adding that accountability must apply "regardless of status, political affiliation, or personal connections".

Cabinet has approved a phased roll-out overseen by a temporary body that will coordinate the changes. Some proposals will need new laws and possibly amendments to the Constitution. "Trust will not be restored by speeches," Ramaphosa said.