The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will this week lead a roundtable discussion with the National Business Initiative (NBI) to review the 1998 White Paper on Local Government.
The CoGTA-NBI roundtable will be held on Friday, 20 June 2025, in Durban under the theme: “Every Municipality Must Work – A Call for Collective Action”.
According to the department, the upcoming discussion with the NBI is part of the ongoing inclusive and participatory policy reform process to design a modern and fit-for-purpose local government system.
The NBI is an independent coalition of nearly 100 South African and multinational companies dedicated to creating a prosperous country and society.
Founded in 1995 by former President Nelson Mandela, the NBI is a voluntary alliance of businesses committed to this vision.
“Through this engagement, everyone will have an opportunity to have their say and make an input into the type of local government they envisage,” the department said.
The discussions will focus on evaluating the legacy and shortcomings of the 1998 White Paper.
They will explore key policy priorities for a renewed local government framework and provide practical recommendations from both business and provincial perspectives.
In addition, the talks aim to strengthen partnerships to improve local governance and infrastructure delivery.
Attendees will include business leaders and key economic institutions in KwaZulu-Natal, such as the KZN Provincial Economic Working Group (PeWG), Invest Durban, the KZN Growth Coalition, local Chambers of Commerce, and senior government officials.
The CoGTA Deputy Minister, Dr Namane Dickson Masemola, is also expected to join the Minister.
In April, Hlabisa officially published a discussion document on the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government.
This document, published under Notice No. 6118 (Gazette: 52498), initiated a national discussion aimed at producing a revised White Paper on Local Government by March 2026.
According to the department, the review launched last month aims to inspire fresh thinking, facilitate honest reflection, and promote decisive action toward establishing a local government system that effectively serves the people of South Africa.
“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,” the department 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. – SAnews.gov.za
