Marking a key step in the ongoing reform of South Africa’s local government system, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA)Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has officially gazetted the Reviewed Draft White Paper on Local Government for public comment.
The publication follows an extensive nationwide consultation process that commenced with the release of a discussion document in April 2025.
Since then, government has undertaken broad engagements with communities, civil society, organised local government, traditional leaders, academics, public institutions, and stakeholders across all spheres of government.
The review seeks to modernise and strengthen the local government system to ensure municipalities are better equipped to respond to the developmental needs of communities. It proposes a range of key reforms aimed at improving governance, strengthening accountability, enhancing financial sustainability, and accelerating effective service delivery.
Hlabisa said the review process represents an important opportunity to reimagine a capable, responsive and developmental local government system that places communities at the centre of governance.
“The review of the White Paper is a necessary and timely intervention to ensure that local government remains responsive to the changing needs of our people. We are calling on all South Africans and stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the future of local government through this public consultation process,” the Minister said.
Hlabisa emphasised that the review is aligned with government’s commitment to cooperative governance and the strengthening of municipalities as the sphere of government closest to the people. The process also reinforces the principles of the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes integrated planning, coordination and collaboration across all sectors of society and government.
Members of the public and interested stakeholders, including civil society organisations, organised local government, state institutions, traditional leadership structures, business formations, labour and all interested stakeholders are invited to submit written comments on the Reviewed Draft White Paper.
The closing date for submissions is 28 May 2026.
Submissions may be sent via email to: WPLG26@cogta.gov.za; RichardP@cogta.gov.za, or MaphutiL@cogta.gov.za Alternatively, submissions may be posted to: The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, for Attention: Mr. Thabiso Richard Plank (White Paper Review), Private Bag X802, Pretoria, 0001.
Submissions can also be delivered in person to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for Attention: Mr. Thabiso Richard Plank (White Paper Review), 87 Hamilton Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0001
The Reviewed Draft White Paper is available on: https://tinyurl.com/ycyran3p
At a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet approved the gazetting of the Draft White Paper on Local Government for public consultation.
“The Revised White Paper is part of the local government reforms of fixing local government to build a modern, fit for purpose local government system capable of delivering services sustainably.
“The review of the White Paper was initiated to ensure that the local government policy framework remains responsive to current and evolving developmental, economic, spatial and environmental realities. Priority focus areas identified are institutional culture in municipalities, political leadership and accountability, intergovernmental coordination, citizen involvement, financial and fiscal reforms, and traditional leadership,” said Ntshavheni.
The Draft White Paper adopts a phased and sequenced implementation approach to ensure a coherent and sustainable transition in local government reform.
“The draft recognises that previous reform efforts have often faltered at the implementation stage, due in part to insufficient attention to sequencing and transition management. As a primary reform action, the Revised Draft White Paper proposes the establishment of a time-bound Local Government Transition Management Body,” said Ntshavheni. – SAnews.gov.za
