The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will officially launch the Review of the White Paper on Local Government (WPLG98) next week.
The launch is scheduled for Monday, 19 May 2025, and will initiate an inclusive and participatory policy reform process aimed at establishing a modern and effective local government system.
“The review is an open call to action for communities and stakeholders to collectively build a new and ideal system of local government characterised by responsiveness, efficiency, and accountability. The responsibility to ensure viable and sustainable municipalities is a shared national duty in advancing democracy,” a statement by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said.
Adopted in 1998, the White Paper served as a foundational blueprint for building democratic local governance in South Africa.
However, the department believes there is growing recognition that the current model is no longer adequate to meet the evolving developmental and service delivery needs of communities.
It said the persistent governance, financial, structural, and administrative challenges have undermined the ability of municipalities to deliver effectively on their mandates.
“The launch of the White Paper review represents an important intervention to address these challenges and to reimagine a fit-for-purpose, resilient, and developmental local government system aligned with the country’s constitutional vision.”
In addition, the department stated that the landmark review affirms government’s commitment to structural reform.
The upcoming national launch is expected to bring together key stakeholders across all spheres of government, traditional leadership, civil society, and research institutions in a unified effort to address ongoing failures in local governance, policy implementation, service delivery, and accountability. – SAnews.gov.za
