Durban: The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, is set to spearhead a roundtable discussion this week with the National Business Initiative (NBI) to examine the 1998 White Paper on Local Government.
According to South African Government News Agency, this CoGTA-NBI roundtable is scheduled for Friday, 20 June 2025, in Durban, themed ‘Every Municipality Must Work – A Call for Collective Action’. The discussion is part of an ongoing policy reform process aimed at establishing a modern and efficient local government system.
The NBI, established in 1995 by former President Nelson Mandela, is an independent coalition comprising nearly 100 South African and multinational companies committed to fostering a prosperous society. The department emphasizes that this engagement offers stakeholders the chance to express their visions for local government.
The dialogue will assess the legacy and limitations of the 1998 White Paper, exploring key policy priorities for a renewed local government framework, and providing practical recommendations from business and provincial perspectives. The talks also aim to enhance partnerships to improve governance and infrastructure delivery.
Key attendees include business leaders and 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. CoGTA Deputy Minister Dr Namane Dickson Masemola is also expected to participate.
In April, Minister Hlabisa released a discussion document on the White Paper’s review, initiating a national dialogue aimed at revising the document by March 2026. This review seeks to encourage new ideas, promote reflection, and facilitate decisive action for an effective local government system.
The department has highlighted that the review is a call to action for communities and stakeholders to collaboratively build a responsive, efficient, and accountable local government system. It is seen as a collective responsibility to ensure sustainable municipalities that advance democracy.
Initially adopted in 1998, the White Paper served as a foundational framework for democratic local governance in South Africa. However, there is a growing recognition that the existing model needs revisions to meet the evolving needs of communities.