Is South Africa's capital city experiencing a genuine turnaround or just masterful political spin?Tshwane finds itself at the center of a heated political battle, with ActionSA claiming miraculous progress while the DA cries foul over opportunistic power grabs. But what's really happening on the ground?In this deep dive, we explore the competing narratives shaping South Africa's administrative capital:THE CLAIMS:21,000 streetlights repaired in 100 days99% reduction in pothole backlogCity reserves jumping from R50 million to R368 millionClean water finally restored to Hammanskraal after 20 yearsTHE REALITY CHECK:R4.3 billion inherited deficitR7 billion infrastructure backlogOnly 76% revenue collection rate60% of treated water lost through leaks and theftTHE POLITICAL DRAMA:From Cilliers Brink's removal to coalition instability, we unpack how political maneuvering affects actual service delivery. Is this progress sustainable, or will it collapse when the coalition inevitably changes?We examine perspectives from ActionSA's victory celebration, the DA's bitter opposition, skeptical analysts, and most importantly - ordinary residents living through these changes daily.KEY QUESTIONS:Can a city really recover from such massive deficits? Are coalition governments the future of South African politics? Is fixing streetlights something to celebrate or a basic expectation?This isn't just about Tshwane - it's a test case for whether local government can be fixed across South Africa. The stakes extend far beyond the capital's boundaries.Share your experiences with local government in the comments - are things improving in your municipality?