“Yet, CFOs, HODs, have not been dismissed for unauthorised expenditure, no mayor has been held accountable, no measurable improvement has been seen. Instead, we see a government that knowingly budgets for failure and abandons communities to suffer the consequences.”
He called the review of the white paper on local government a step in the right direction, saying, “we must now commit to making local government work, because it is the sphere of government that touches the lives of South Africans every single day”.
Hlabisa highlighted the comprehensive review of the 1998 White Paper on local government as a key focus area of his ministry, saying that it marks a crucial step towards a focused and fit for purpose local governance structures and that will result in efficient service delivery.
“This review is a testament to our collective commitment to addressing the challenges facing local governance and shaping a future that aligns with the aspirations of all South Africans.
“The review emphasises the need for local governments to adapt to a changing world characterised by urban growth, climate challenges, youth unemployment, and digital transformation, while embracing collaborations with traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions.
Hlabisa announced that he expected major collaboration across society as the review will function to influence governance, community engagement, and socioeconomic development.
“It reflects the government’s commitment to improving local governance and service delivery, which are vital for effective democracy and citizen satisfaction. We prioritise inclusive engagement by ensuring all voices, especially those historically silenced, are heard. We aim to provide marginalised groups, like informal traders, women, youth, traditional and Khoi-San leaders, and rural communities, with the opportunity to participate.”
He said the review aims to create a modern local governance structure that fosters capable, ethical and innovative municipalities, ultimately improving lives and strengthening democracy.
The department has announced it has buckled to requests for more engagement, which has resulted in an extension of the deadline to July 2025.
“Our goal is to develop a responsive local government system that meets the needs of all South Africans and delivers quality services. We have made progress in implementing targeted interventions in distressed municipalities. These interventions include infrastructure maintenance and development support, enabling municipalities to address basic service delivery backlogs in water, electricity, roads and sanitation.
“We are also advancing critical policy and legislative reforms that lay the foundation for long-term stability and improved governance. Our interventions are guided by careful assessments of municipal needs, and we are committed to ensuring that our support is effective and sustainable.”
According to the minister, his department’s budget strategy introduces a package of targeted and differentiated interventions, guided by careful assessments of municipal needs.
He said the department had identified 30 priority municipalities requiring support and intervention.
Hlabisa said the department’s focus areas include the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) which will accelerate critical infrastructure projects, ensuring value for money.
He added the ministry allocated R493.8m to support this initiative in priority municipalities.