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Deadline extension for submissions on Local Government White Paper review

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) minister Velenkosini Hlabisa officially launched the review of the White Paper on Local Government on 20 May 2025. Hlabisa called for all interested parties to make submissions, saying that the success of the review relies on a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, and that contributions were required across all three Read more >

Contribute to the review of the White Paper for Local Government

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Leadership (Cogta) is reviewing the 1998 White Paper on Local Government (WPLG) to evaluate its impact, tackle challenges, and align local governance with modern realities. Accordingly, the department invites the public, civil society, public institutions, interested stakeholders, and all three spheres of government to provide comments towards the Read more >

GPG turnaround barometer to improve municipal performance

In January 2025 the Gauteng provincial government (GPG) announced the imminent launch of its Local Government Turnaround Barometer Dashboard – an initiative that is set to monitor municipal performance and improve service delivery across the province, if all goes according to plan. The provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) is in charge Read more >

Victory for Abahlali and the Sheffield shack dwellers

Photo: Tsoanelo Sefoloko for GroundUp By Tsoanelo SefolokoFirst published on GroundUp A recent court settlement with the KwaDukuza Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal to include more than 300 shack dwellers in a new housing development has been welcomed by housing movement Abahlali BaseMjondolo. The agreement brings to an end nearly five-years of continuous evictions and court battles. Read more >

Be an active citizen – play your part in advancing effective local governance

Image: Edward Middleton, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license Source: CoGTA The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) reiterates the call for active citizen participation in local government. To have a meaningful impact on how your municipality is run, you need to understand the processes involved. This guide explains Read more >

Empty vessels make the most noise, especially in politics

By Melusi NcalaFirst published on News24 In the past year, South Africans have endured not only the hardships of Covid-19 on top of everything else, but have been subjected to the outlandish and improbable promises of campaigning politicians gearing up for the local government elections. When casting our vote, writes Corruption Watch’s Melusi Ncala, we must Read more >

Municipal Structures Amendment Act to commence on 1 November

The Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act will commence on the same day that local government elections take place. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed, on 7 October, a notice which was gazetted, informing South Africa that “Under section 39 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 3 of 2021), I hereby determine 01 November 2021 as the Read more >