Pretoria: While recent weather conditions have highlighted the significance of municipal operations, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has announced an extension for submissions on the Review of the White Paper on Local Government. Initially set for 30 June, the deadline has now been moved to 31 July 2025.
According to South African Government News Agency, the extension comes in response to requests from stakeholders nationwide seeking more time to prepare and submit their inputs. This move aims to facilitate broader consultation and deeper reflection, encouraging individuals and organizations to contribute their perspectives on the future of local governance.
The Ministry emphasized the importance of inclusive participation in shaping a responsive and effective local governance system. It welcomes active engagement from all sectors of society, recognizing that these contributions are crucial for strengthening the future of local government. This initiative underscores the impact of local governance on daily life, from refuse collection to road maintenance and electricity provision.
In a Government Gazette issued on 10 April 2025, Minister Hlabisa invited public participation from civil society, public institutions, stakeholders, and all government spheres to provide comments on the review. The review addresses challenges brought on by changing weather patterns, as evidenced by recent floods in the Eastern Cape that claimed 103 lives, including children and first responders.
In response to such disasters, the government has allocated a substantial Disaster Recovery Grant of R1.2 billion to affected municipalities. Climate change is among the nine interconnected priorities for change discussed in the review document. It highlights the escalating climate crisis and its impact on municipal governance priorities, necessitating a balance between immediate service delivery demands and long-term resilience planning.
The review notes critical deficits in institutional capacity and resource allocation, requiring structural reforms in financial planning, infrastructure development, and cross-sectoral coordination. Municipal budgets have been significantly impacted by climate-induced disasters, with emergency expenditures increasing by 320% across South African cities between 1998 and 2025.
The document identifies key challenges in local government, including breakdowns in finance, governance, and service delivery, leading to high debt, council instability, and deteriorating infrastructure. It calls for reform in the local government system to ensure it supports the country’s development rather than hindering it.
Other priorities for change include municipal fiscal and financial reform, unethical practices, overpoliticization of municipalities, poor oversight, weak traditional governance integration, strained relationships with citizens, ineffective governmental collaboration, and persistent spatial inequalities.
The review underscores the need for ethical leadership across all government spheres to model transparency, accountability, and responsiveness, while also strengthening anti-corruption measures. It also highlights the importance of improving relationships between municipalities and their communities to address issues like the R230.5 billion municipal debt owed by households.
Despite the challenges, the white paper acknowledges achievements since the dawn of democracy, such as the establishment of autonomous municipalities, regular local elections, and expanded access to basic services. The review presents an opportunity to assess progress, identify challenges, and propose policy reforms to enhance local governance through public participation.
The White Paper can be accessed online, and contributions can be submitted via email or postal address as specified by the Ministry.