District Development Model Takes Centre Stage in G20 Dialogue in Northern Cape

In a significant boost, the R1 billion Presidential Housing Project, announced by President Ramaphosa, includes allocations for new housing units in Diamond Park and Roodepan.

The District Development Model (DDM), a flagship governance initiative introduced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is fast becoming a key driver in aligning service delivery with national and global development priorities. This was the core message delivered by Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, during a G20 Community Leaders Dialogue held on Thursday at the Roman Catholic Church in Roodepan, within the Sol Plaatje Municipality, Frances Baard District, Northern Cape.

The event formed part of South Africa’s broader engagement strategy during its Presidency of the G20, under the theme “Inclusive Growth for a Sustainable Future.” The dialogue brought together local government officials, community leaders, and national representatives to discuss practical ways of turning policy commitments into community transformation through the DDM framework.

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What Is the District Development Model?

The District Development Model was conceptualised to address South Africa’s longstanding challenge of fragmented service delivery. For years, the lack of coordination between national, provincial, and local government spheres resulted in duplicated efforts, inefficiencies, and stalled projects.

To counter this, the DDM promotes “One District, One Plan”, integrating all levels of government into a single, harmonised planning and accountability framework. It is designed to deliver people-centred development, with projects tailored to the specific needs and opportunities of each district.

Deputy Minister Mhlauli highlighted the model as “the local engine that turns global commitments into tangible change.” This includes outcomes such as job creation, access to clean water, improved infrastructure, and safer communities.

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Local Priorities in Frances Baard District

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the DDM plan for the Frances Baard District focuses on several core pillars:

• Water security and sanitation upgrades

• Youth employment and skills development

• Maintenance and improvement of roads and public infrastructure

• Electricity access and affordability

These interventions are being implemented through collaborative efforts involving both the public and private sectors, civil society, and grassroots organisations.

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Key Service Delivery Projects Underway

Mhlauli acknowledged that an environmental assessment conducted by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) revealed pressing service delivery issues in areas such as Roodepan, Windsorton, and Pampierstad. These included:

• Aging infrastructure

• Water shortages

• High electricity costs and load-shedding impacts

• Inadequate healthcare services and medication shortages

• Delays in housing developments and unresolved title deeds

However, concrete steps are being taken to address these challenges:

• Sol Plaatje Municipality is installing high-mast lighting and new water taps in Lerato Park.

• Phokwane Municipality is distributing water tanks and repairing damaged roads and potholes.

• Magareng Municipality is upgrading its water treatment plant to ensure cleaner and more reliable supply.

In a significant boost, the R1 billion Presidential Housing Project, announced by President Ramaphosa, includes allocations for new housing units in Diamond Park and Roodepan.

“Our task now is to ensure that these projects are completed, maintained, and serve the people they are meant for,” said Deputy Minister Mhlauli.

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Community Participation and G20 Alignment

Mhlauli used the opportunity to remind the audience that South Africa currently holds the rotating Presidency of the G20, an international forum comprising the world’s largest economies. She emphasised the importance of local dialogues, like the one held in Roodepan, as building blocks of global cooperation and inclusive development.

“Real progress begins in communities like Roodepan. The theme of our G20 Presidency — Inclusive Growth for a Sustainable Future — underscores the need to focus on community-rooted development,” she said.

The DDM is a practical mechanism for delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level, ensuring that global ambitions translate into tangible local outcomes.

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Strengthening Accountability Through Feedback

To ensure ongoing responsiveness and accountability, Mhlauli committed to setting up regular community feedback sessions. These would allow residents to voice their concerns and track progress on government commitments through updates to the One Plan Review.

“Frances Baard is a proud and resilient district — the economic heart of the Northern Cape. The challenges you face are not insurmountable. Let us work together, community and government hand-in-hand, to turn Roodepan into a model of cooperative governance in action,” she said.

This community-driven model aims to institutionalise co-governance, making citizens active participants in shaping their local future rather than passive recipients of state services.

 

The G20 Community Leaders Dialogue in Roodepan marks a crucial step in demonstrating how local governance can be revitalised through coordinated action, inclusive planning, and integrated service delivery. As the District Development Model continues to expand its footprint across South Africa’s municipalities, it offers a template for turning visionary goals into measurable, people-centred outcomes.