Amplifying the community voice in local government

Section 2 of the Municipal Systems Act defines a municipality as a triad: Council (constituted by councillors), Administration (made up of officials appointed by the council), and Community (including residents of the municipality, rate payers and civil society organisations operating in the municipal area).

Some progress in improving implementation of the Free Basic Services Policy, but a comprehensive policy review is still required

Millions of South Africans still lack access to basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity and other essential municipal services despite Government’s efforts over the last 25 years in implementing its Free Basic Services (FBS) policy.

Coalition governance and municipal stability in South Africa: Institutional challenges and reform imperatives

Since 2000, South Africa’s local government system has largely been characterised by the rule of dominant parties, mainly under the African National Congress (ANC).

Bridging the governance literacy gap: Why capacity building matters for meaningful public participation

South African local government remains a complex system for communities to navigate. Yet communities have the potential to strengthen accountability and improve governance through the various public participation mechanisms established in law.

Enabling the hydrogen economy: Are South African Municipalities ready?

South Africa is embarking on an ambitious transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.

The limits of municipal expropriation powers in addressing housing shortage: City of Tshwane v Summer Season Trading

South Africa’s housing crisis remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges in the post-apartheid era.

The role of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders in the integrated development planning process

This article presents the results of a study which examined the role of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders in supporting effective and efficient integrated service delivery through integrated development plans (IDPs).

Editorial Note: An opportunity to shape local government and service delivery in South Africa

The Draft White Paper on Local Government (WPLG), currently open for public comment, offers a historic opportunity to reshape South Africa’s local governance system.

Questioning the two-tier local government system

The Draft White Paper on Local Government argues that the two-tier system of local government does not serve South Africa well.

Binding intergovernmental protocols, agreements and compacts

A central thrust of the Draft White Paper on Local Government is to strengthen intergovernmental cooperation to advance local governance and development.

Reforming the local government system requires stronger parliamentary oversight

This article examines the proposals introduced in Chapter 3 of the Draft White Paper on cooperative governance, intergovernmental relations, and planning for collective impact.

Interventions into municipalities: Oversight, early warning and enforcement

The Constitution provides that national, provincial and local government are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated.

A call for transparent and consistent enforcement of the Codes of Conduct

The Draft White Paper on Local Government seeks to undertake a major overhaul of the system of local government, which includes strengthening the Codes of Conduct. The purpose of this article is to comment on the proposals put forward to achieve this objective.

Differentiating municipal powers: Reflections on the Draft White Paper

In Chapter 2, the Draft White Paper proposes a differentiated approach to the powers of municipalities.

Beyond punishment: Rethinking consequence management in local government

“Consequence management” has become a familiar phrase within South African governance discourse. It is repeatedly invoked in response to corruption, maladministration, audit failures, and service delivery collapse.

Municipal finance and long-term sustainability

Chapter 8 of the Draft White Paper on Local Government identifies several important challenges affecting municipal financial sustainability.

Transparency: The missing link in local government?

According to the Draft White Paper on Local Government, "transparency is too often reactive. Communities struggle to access, ahead of time, basic information about budgets, projects, contracts, land-use decisions, audit findings, and disciplinary outcomes."

Traditional and municipal relationship: From symbolic cooperation to binding compacts?

The central policy shift in the Draft White Paper on Local Government is to move from loosely defined consultation and participation arrangements toward structured, enforceable partnerships between municipalities and traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions, grounded in local government functionality and democratic accountability.

When silence undermines intergovernmental support: SADA v Minister of Cooperative Governance

The Constitutional Court’s judgment in Socialist Agenda of Dispossessed Africans v Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs [2025 ZACC 26] is a case about the establishment of executive committees and fair representation in municipalities.

South Africa’s youth uncertain about voting in the upcoming Local Government Elections

Scepticism surrounds South African youth participation in the 2026 local government elections. This is mainly due to growing disillusionment and a lack of trust in the political system.

Who may prepare and submit land development applications?: Lessons from Jose Maleta v City of Matlosana

A recent High Court judgment clarified an issue that quietly shaped development practice in many municipalities: who may prepare and submit land development applications?

The 2024 Government of National Unity: Multi-party governance and economic development – lessons for coalition-led municipalities

The formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2024 brought with it a renewed sense of hope.

City of Cape Town cancels tender due to reputational risk

Can an organ of state such as a municipality, lawfully exclude a bidder from participating in a tender process purely on the grounds that the bidder poses a reputational risk - especially when allegations of corruption have been raised?

Devolution in Kenya: Senate oversight and the limits of “gubernatorial” resistance

This article examines the legal framework of gubernatorial accountability and the constitutional requirement for County Governors in Kenya to appear before the Senate and its committees.

When "the Right to city" in Bulawayo is trampled by artisanal and small-scale mining

It is anticipated that by 2050, 68% to 70% of the world's population will be residing in cities. In Zimbabwe, with 30% to 40% of the population residing in urban areas, the population in cities such as Bulawayo will likely double or even triple by 2050.

When a disaster strikes but municipalities and the province are nowhere to be seen: Saziwa and Others v Mhlontlo Local Municipality and Others

This article discusses a judgment of the Constitutional Court which found the failure of the OR Tambo District Municipality and its local municipality, the Mhlontlo Local Municipality, to provide support to a community affected by a disaster, unlawful and unconstitutional.

Unpacking the new proposals in the “Second Municipal Structures Amendment Bill of 2025”

In January 2025, a private members bill titled the “Local Government: Second Structures Amendment Bill” was recently introduced in the National Assembly by a member of parliament, George Michalakis (Democratic Alliance).

Pharmaceutical waste: A hidden threat in municipal waste management

Everyone has the constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. Yet pharmaceutical waste poses a unique and often overlooked threat to this right.

High Court finds NERSA's approval of municipal electricity tariffs unconstitutional

South African citizens have faced steadily rising electricity tariffs over recent years, with further increases anticipated in the near future. This trend has placed significant financial pressure on households and businesses alike.

The Auditor-General’s new teeth in action: R4.6 million certificate of debt issued to a municipal manager

South Africa reached important turning point for public financial accountability when the Auditor-General (AG) issued their first certificate of debt against the municipal manager of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, on 14 November 2025.

Externalising services in distressed municipalities – a new solution to a persistent problem? Part 1

In some municipalities, basic service delivery is collapsing. These municipalities struggle with a combination of political instability, governance challenges, consumer debt, debt to bulk service providers, aging infrastructure etc.

Externalising services in distressed municipalities – a new solution to a persistent problem? Part 2

This article is the second in a two-part series about externalising municipal services in response to municipal distress.

The significance of the 2025 G20 South Africa Summit on local governance

The G20 Summit hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg on 22-23 November 2025 marked a pivotal moment for global dialogue under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”.

Righting wrongs: Western Cape Province seeks to formalise the assignment of the library services function to municipalities

Headline: At the recent 5th African School on Decentralisation held by the Dullah Omar Institute, the Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, bemoaned the challenge of unfunded or underfunded mandates on municipalities.

Can municipal councils fund councillor education and training?

Municipal councillors play a key role in governance. They are responsible for oversight, ensuring accountability, and holding the municipal administration to account.