The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa, today concluded the fourth strategic CoGTA–National Business Initiative (NBI) roundtable on the review of the 1998 white paper on local government. This final leg of the engagement was held in East London, Eastern Cape, ahead of the 31 July 2025 deadline for public submissions on the discussion document for the white paper review.
This Eastern Cape-focused iteration follows successful engagements in the Western Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal, forming part of a broader, inclusive, and participatory policy reform process under the theme: “Every municipality must work – a call to collective action.”
The roundtable aimed to harness practical insights from the business sector to shape a modern, fit-for-purpose local government system. In his keynote address, Minister Hlabisa emphasized the critical importance of leadership in local government, particularly regarding competence, capability, and ethical conduct.
The engagement provided the business sector with a platform to: reflect on the legacy and limitations of the 1998 white paper; identify policy priorities for a renewed local government framework;
– offer practical recommendations from business and provincial perspectives;
– strengthen partnerships to improve governance and infrastructure delivery.
Minister Hlabisa commended the cleanliness of East London, noting that this final consultation was not a cosmetic exercise but a substantive effort to reset the vision of the 1998 white paper. He acknowledged the current challenges facing municipalities, including rapid urbanisation, climate change, youth unemployment, and declining public trust.
Throughout the public consultations, a consistent message has emerged from traditional leaders, business, civil society organisations, and citizens alike: every municipality must work to create a conducive environment for investment, stimulate economic activity, and ensure sustainable service delivery matched by payment for services.
Minister Hlabisa further reflected on the need to reposition municipalities as economic enablers through a differentiated funding regime, overseen by a competent and accountable leadership. He also stressed the importance of streamlining regulatory frameworks to enable climate-resilient planning, budgeting, and infrastructure development—guided by investment foresight and institutionalised collaborative partnerships beyond the review process.
In conclusion, the Minister committed to requesting for the establishment of a dedicated unit within the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat corruption in local government, noting that eliminating corruption is essential to achieving effective governance.
The Minister was joined by the Executive Mayor of Buffalo City Metro, Cllr Princess Faku, who welcomed the timely review, highlighting the complex challenges municipalities face and the need for tailored collaborations with business to address capacity constraints and stimulate local economic development.
Ms Shameela Soobramoney, CEO of NBI, described the engagement as a pivotal moment to shape sustainable and inclusive local government systems. She emphasized the need for the evolution of integrated development plans (IDPs) into investment prospectuses—bankable project portfolios that can drive meaningful change.
Efficient local government is essential for economic growth and business sustainability. This roundtable offered business leaders a strategic platform to influence policies that reduce investment risk and foster a more conducive business environment.
Enquiries:
Ms Pearl Maseko-Binqose
Media Liaison Officer for the Minister of CoGTA
Cell: +27 (82) 772 1709
Mr Legadima Leso
Head of Communications, CoGTA
Cell: +27 (66) 479 9904
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