𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗧𝗔 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗖 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬, 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, successfully led a two-day CoGTA Sector Strategic Planning gathering on 10 and 11 November 2025 under the theme: “Every Municipality Must Work.” He was joined by Deputy Minister Dr Namane Dickson Masemola and Prince Zolile Burns Ngcamashe.

The meeting brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including MECs from provinces, SALGA leadership, the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, Directors-General, CEOs, Provincial HoDs, representatives from the Auditor-General SA, sector national departments, and senior officials. Its purpose was to strengthen coherence, coordination, and collaboration across all spheres of government, ensuring that interventions are aligned and focused on delivering tangible results that improve the lives of South Africans.

In his opening remarks, Minister Hlabisa highlighted the importance of this strategic planning gathering, taking place as the current municipal term is about to conclude and ahead of the 2026 local government elections. He described the session as “a time to take stock, to be honest with ourselves, and to chart a new course for municipalities across the country.” The Minister thanked participants for their dedication and engagement, emphasizing that the gathering provided a platform to collectively reflect on challenges, successes, and opportunities in local government.

The forum reinforced the strategic importance of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) as guiding instruments for sustainable, inclusive, and service-oriented municipalities. While national and provincial interventions continue to support municipalities, persistent challenges remain, including financial mismanagement, limited capacity, and uneven service delivery. Against this backdrop, outcomes from the Local Government Indaba 2025 were reviewed and integrated into actionable strategies to improve municipal performance.

Key interventions highlighted by Minister Hlabisa included:

- Ending unfunded municipal budgets and improving financial planning

- Ensuring the timely submission of Annual Financial Statements

- Addressing municipalities with adverse audit outcomes to restore credibility and trust

- Supporting municipalities in compiling credible indigent registers to protect vulnerable communities and

- Reassessing the sustainability of 257 municipalities while strengthening 52 Districts of DDM as service delivery hubs to maximize efficiency and impact.

A central focus of the strategic planning meeting was the review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government (WPLG). Minister Hlabisa described the review as “a bridge between analysis and action,” emphasizing its role in transitioning from “developmental local government” to developmental governance at the local level. This approach prioritizes differentiated powers, capability-based functions, and binding intergovernmental compacts that ensure all spheres of government work harmoniously to deliver services effectively.

The strategic role of traditional leadership was also underscored. Minister Hlabisa stressed that rural communities can no longer be treated as peripheral to development, stating: “Traditional leaders are not ceremonial figures; they are strategic partners in governance, custodians of culture, and agents of development.” He called for their full integration into municipal governance structures, proper resourcing of traditional councils, and strict adherence to safety protocols, particularly during the summer customary initiation season, to prevent loss of life and ensure community protection.

Disaster preparedness was highlighted as another critical area. Minister Hlabisa emphasized the need for proactive and integrated systems linking municipalities and traditional leadership structures: “Disasters do not respect boundaries; our response must therefore transcend silos, focusing on early warning, risk mapping, and local resilience.” He reinforced the importance of anticipatory planning and collaboration in safeguarding communities.

Discussions on the WPLG review took into account 265 public submissions received from April to July 2025, alongside extensive consultations, research, and stakeholder engagements. The updated Local Government White Paper (WPLG26) is expected to be released by March 2026, with its recommendations informing amendments to the General Laws Amendment Bill and other relevant national legislation.

The strategic planning gathering included six commissions tasked with translating deliberations into actionable implementation plans:

- Commission One: Coordination & Support to Local Government (oversight roles, IGR mechanisms, capacity-building programmes)

- Commission Two: Integration of Traditional Leadership into Local Governance

- Commission Three: Professionalisation of Local Government (HR, appointments, capability building)

- Commission Four: Governance, Compliance and Innovation (ICT, digitalisation, audit findings)

- Commission Five: Fiscal Management & Infrastructure Delivery (grant use, revenue enhancement, fiscal reforms, infrastructure implementation)

- Commission Six: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Performance (tracking progress, data- driven decision making, sector performance assessments)

Through these commissions, participants identified sector strengths, weaknesses, and resources, and proposed mechanisms to ensure effective coordination and implementation of Local Government Indaba resolutions. The groups emphasized moving from discussion to measurable action, reinforcing accountability, transparency, and results-oriented governance.

In his closing remarks, Minister Hlabisa urged participants to convert the meeting’s outcomes into concrete solutions and decisive leadership. He called for unity, accountability, and a renewed commitment to service delivery: “Now is the moment to rise with determination. Let us govern with integrity and serve with profound purpose. Together, we can craft a tomorrow that is brighter, fairer, and built on the promise of a local government that truly works for its people.”

The gathering concluded with a clear message on agility and responsiveness in action planning, ensuring resources are efficiently allocated and outcomes shared across the sector to maximize impact and strengthen service delivery.

Ends

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Pearl Maseko-Binqose

Media Liaison Officer for the Minister

082 7721 709

Mr. Legadima Leso

Head of Communications, CoGTA

082 800 3475

Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs