Pretoria: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has reaffirmed the District Development Model (DDM) as a central pillar of South Africa's development strategy. 'The DDM acts as the primary operational framework to bridge the gap between planning and service delivery across all 44 districts and eight metropolitan areas,' Hlabisa said in a statement.
According to South African Government News Agency, Minister Hlabisa emphasized that the model aims to ensure intergovernmental alignment without replacing municipal authority. Developed by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the framework allows municipalities to retain their constitutional powers to plan and govern. The district 'One Plan' integrates existing plans from municipalities, provinces, and national departments to avoid duplication and reduce competition for resources.
Hlabisa highlighted the importance of aligning different government spheres around shared priorities, as mandated by Chapter 3 of the Constitution, which requires all spheres of government to coordinate and integrate plans and programs. The DDM operationalizes this principle by bringing together national departments, provinces, and municipalities to align budgets, infrastructure investment, and spatial planning, creating joint accountability for development outcomes.
Since its launch in 2019, the DDM has been instrumental in breaking the pattern of fragmented planning, which has historically undermined effective governance in South Africa. Departments and spheres of government often operated in isolation, but the DDM focuses on integrating planning, budgeting, and implementation, contributing positively to the realization of a capable and ethical developmental state.
Hlabisa noted that the model supports equity across districts and metros by reducing uneven development. Financially stronger metros and municipalities often have better planning capacity and revenue bases, while rural municipalities struggle with technical expertise and infrastructure planning. The DDM enables national and provincial governments to strategically channel resources into districts and metros where capacity is weaker, improving local and national spatial equity.
Addressing concerns about the model's impact on municipal autonomy, Hlabisa stated that coordination is a constitutional requirement and does not threaten local governance. Legal opinions obtained by CoGTA confirmed the DDM's constitutionality, although some stakeholders raised procedural and technical uncertainties related to its institutionalization and implementation.
Proposed amendments to the 2024 DDM regulations, currently open for public comment, aim to enhance the framework, particularly on the roles and responsibilities of intergovernmental stakeholders and the relationship between 'One Plans' and other legislated development plans. These amendments align with existing planning legislation, such as the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) and the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act of 2000.
Hlabisa reiterated that all districts and metropolitan municipalities are integrated into national priorities, including economic growth, housing delivery, transport systems, and climate resilience. The DDM seeks to achieve these priorities through coordinated action across all government spheres.
Looking ahead, Hlabisa emphasized that the outcomes of intergovernmental dispute processes and proposed regulatory amendments reinforce the DDM as a practical mechanism aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP). He called for a comprehensive government and society approach to fully institutionalize the DDM nationwide, ensuring that every municipality works for the benefit of the people.
'It is only this game changer that we will be able to turn things around and together,' the Minister concluded.