CoGTA-NBI Roundtable to Advance Local Government Reform, Hlabisa to Lead

The 1998 White Paper on Local Government was a landmark framework that guided the transformation of local governance following apartheid.

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will preside over the third high-level CoGTA–National Business Initiative (NBI) Roundtable in East London on 30 July 2025, marking a critical step in the national review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. Held under the theme “Every Municipality Must Work – A Call to Collective Action,” the event is set to engage stakeholders from government, business, and civil society in reimagining South Africa’s local government system for the 21st century.

A Call to Reform: Addressing the Legacy of the 1998 White Paper

The 1998 White Paper on Local Government was a landmark framework that guided the transformation of local governance following apartheid. However, over two decades later, mounting governance failures, service delivery backlogs, and structural inefficiencies have spurred the need for a comprehensive policy overhaul.

The roundtable comes in the wake of Minister Hlabisa’s publication of a discussion document in April 2025 under Notice No. 6118 (Government Gazette No. 52498). The document serves as the starting point of a national dialogue aimed at replacing the current White Paper with a new, action-oriented framework by March 2026.

“This review is about confronting outdated assumptions, rethinking the role of local government in a modern society, and developing a fit-for-purpose governance model that can respond to current challenges,” the CoGTA advisory stated.

Business Participation: Aligning Governance with Economic Needs

The East London roundtable is being held in partnership with the National Business Initiative (NBI), reflecting the central role that the private sector plays in shaping sustainable local economies. According to CoGTA, efficient and accountable municipalities are essential to attracting investment, reducing operational risks, and safeguarding jobs.

“Poor service delivery increases operational costs, disrupts business, and threatens jobs. This roundtable offers business leaders a platform to influence policies that reduce investment risk and foster a conducive business environment,” the department noted.

The session will welcome attendees from:

• Key national and provincial business associations

• Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality leadership

• Eastern Cape business chambers

• Strategic economic institutions

• Private sector experts in infrastructure and urban development

This diverse mix of stakeholders is expected to contribute actionable insights to improve governance and service delivery outcomes in municipalities across the country.

Reform Priorities on the Table

The roundtable will explore both the legacy of the 1998 White Paper and the urgent need for reforms that reflect South Africa’s evolving developmental, economic, and climate challenges. Among the key reform priorities under discussion are:

• Municipal financial sustainability and debt management

• Revising legislative frameworks including:

  • The Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA)

  • The Municipal Structures Act

  • The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA)

• Enhancing cooperative governance between national, provincial, and local spheres

• Reducing over-politicisation and professionalising local public administration

• Tackling spatial inequality through integrated development planning

• Improving integration of traditional leadership structures

• Enhancing community participation in planning and budgeting processes

• Preparing municipalities for climate-related risks

This policy alignment is aimed at rebuilding the credibility and functionality of local government, which has been steadily eroded by corruption, mismanagement, and political interference.

CoGTA's Vision: A Capable, Developmental Local State

Minister Hlabisa’s leadership of the review process signals a renewed political will to address the local government crisis that continues to affect millions of South Africans. The overarching goal is to build a responsive, accountable, and people-centered local government system.

“We must confront the hard truths about why so many of our municipalities are failing. This process is not about blame, but about bold reform that ensures local government works for every citizen,” Hlabisa has previously stated.

Deputy Minister Dr Namane Dickson Masemola will also participate in the session, reinforcing CoGTA’s commitment to inclusive engagement and institutional renewal.

Looking Ahead: National White Paper to Be Finalised in 2026

The roundtable forms part of a nationwide consultative process that will include provincial dialogues, academic forums, traditional leader engagements, and grassroots community consultations. The final output is a revised White Paper on Local Government, expected to be tabled in March 2026, that will guide policy, legislative amendments, and capacity-building efforts across the country for the next two decades.

By convening voices from business, government, and civil society under one roof, the roundtable hopes to foster collective ownership of the reform process and ensure that every municipality—urban or rural, big or small—functions as an effective engine of service delivery and local development.