SALGA welcomes President Ramaphosa's initiative to professionalise municipal governance

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has welcomed Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent call to strengthen the local government sector, particularly his focus on professionalising municipal governance.

Following the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), SALGA expressed optimism that these initiatives would help address the long-standing structural challenges impeding effective service delivery across municipalities.

Ramaphosa announced that a comprehensive overhaul was under way to tackle the root causes of dysfunction in many local government administrations, which are frequently weakened by patronage networks rather than technical competence.

His address aligned with findings in the Auditor-General of South Africa’s latest report, which highlighted persistent problems such as a lack of accountability, failing service delivery, and widespread instability within local councils.

“Arresting the decline of local government will require our collective action,” Ramaphosa said, outlining government’s commitment to mounting a robust response to these challenges.

He indicated that a revised White Paper on Local Government was forthcoming, proposing fundamental changes aimed at streamlining municipal roles and responsibilities, while recognising the varying capacities of different municipalities.

“The current system is too complex and fragmented,” he acknowledged. “We will propose fundamental changes that recognise the reality that some municipalities can take on more functions than others.”

The President also stressed the importance of improving cooperation between municipalities and traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions to promote community engagement and collaborative problem-solving.

SALGA president Bheke Stofile said the President’s call that “we must fix local government” was a necessary one.

He underscored the crucial role municipalities play as the primary point of interaction between citizens and government, adding that stable leadership, professionalisation, and sustainable funding models were indispensable for municipalities to effectively carry out their constitutional mandates.

Ramaphosa’s recognition of the multifaceted issues confronting local governance resonated with SALGA’s long-standing advocacy. Challenges such as unfunded mandates, governance instability, deteriorating infrastructure, and capacity deficits continue to plague many municipalities.

According to Stofile, a “one-size-fits-all” approach was unlikely to yield positive results for local governance.

Amid the proposed reforms, Stofile cautioned that it was critical to respect the existing constitutional framework.

“While reforms to transform local government are welcomed, it is crucial to do this within the constitutional framework, ensuring that the powers and functions of local government are not usurped in the process,” he said.

The President also announced targeted funding to address essential service backlogs, including water and electricity — an initiative SALGA has acknowledged with appreciation.

However, the association reiterated that long-term solutions require a thorough re-evaluation of the local government funding model.

“While short-term injections can help stabilise crises, municipalities need a sustainable and predictable fiscal framework that matches their responsibilities,” Stofile stressed.

On the ongoing water crisis, SALGA welcomed the President’s call for strict compliance with existing legislation. The organisation emphasised the need to strengthen technical support, establish service-level agreements, and invest in infrastructure as proactive measures to resolve underlying problems.

As the country approaches the upcoming Budget Speech, SALGA said it is eager to see how the President fulfils his stated ambitions for local government reform.

“Local government has a pivotal role in rebuilding trust and delivering services that restore dignity,” Stofile said.

DAILY NEWS