Councillors must give officials a hard time when there is a cut in services like water and electricity.

Political analyst, Professor Steven Friedman says that while ward councillors are not in charge of these services, they are the voices for their communities at council.

Friedman was speaking as some communities in Cape Town have been without electricity for years.

While Eskom has been accused of this failure, the blame has also been laid on councillors for failing to put measures in place to protect the infrastructure.

The DA-run City of Cape Town has often claimed that its lack of action is based on the electricity concern on it being out of their hands.

Friedman notes that South Africa does not have a culture of accountability that follows the chain of councillors being the link between communities and decision-makers.  

[Header image: Radio 786 /FILE]