Mayor Xaba Commits The Municipality To Contribute Meaningfully To The Local Government White Paper Review Process
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Date: 2025-07-02 13:23:33

Mayor Xaba Commits The Municipality To Contribute Meaningfully To The Local Government White Paper Review Process

ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2 JULY 2025
  
EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba convened a workshop to consolidate input for the City on the review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government yesterday, 1 July.
 
The workshop was addressed by the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Dr Namane Masemola who indicated that the process sought to address failures in the local government system.
 
The review process seeks to establish an ideal municipality that is:
 
• Democratic and accountable
• Responsive to community needs
• Provides services in a sustainable manner
• Drives social and economic development
• Creates a safe and healthy environment
• Encourages the involvement of communities
• Creates a culture of service accountability and
• Assigns clear responsibilities to management.
 
Some of the key proposals that are being considered to ensure that municipalities are financially viable include the new financial model for local government that will take into account, among other things, expenditure that is rising above revenue while service delivery is declining.  
 
In its assessment, COGTA has identified key service delivery challenges that are plaguing municipalities which include access to water, solid waste management, poor infrastructure maintenance, poor roads and stormwater systems, electricity and water debt as well as disaster management.
 
The assessment further indicated nine specific issues that require urgent attention to build an ideal municipality. They include financial reforms, increased oversight by provincial and national government, unethical practices and poor accountability, overpoliticisation of municipalities, and a poor relationship with citizens.  
 
Mayor Xaba said eThekwini Municipality was going to participate meaningfully in the process as the white paper was the foundation upon which all legislation governing local government was developed. The City will submit its proposals by mid-July, in time for the deadline of 31 July.
 
The reviewed white paper will be submitted to cabinet by 31 March 2026.
 
ENDS