MINISTER HLABISA RALLIES BUSINESS LEADERS TO HELP REBUILD LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The session comes just one day before the 31 July deadline for public submissions on the White Paper Review Discussion Document and forms part of a broader consultative process under the theme: “Every Municipality Must Work – A Call to Collective Action.”

Minister Hlabisa was joined by Buffalo City Metro Executive Mayor Cllr Princess Faku, NBI CEO Ms Shameela Soobramoney, and CoGTA Director-General Mr Mbulelo Tshangana.

In his keynote address, Minister Hlabisa stressed the need for ethical, capable, and responsive leadership in local government. “We must strengthen the capacity of municipalities to deliver services and build environments where businesses and communities can thrive,” he said.

The roundtable gave business leaders an opportunity to reflect on the strengths and shortcomings of the 1998 White Paper, propose priorities for reform, and share practical recommendations from the private sector and provincial levels.

Discussions also explored ways to strengthen infrastructure delivery, enhance accountability, and create partnerships that foster sustainable development.

With service delivery challenges often cited as a barrier to investment, participants agreed that effective local governance is critical to long-term economic growth. The roundtable affirmed the importance of public-private collaboration in reducing investment risks and enabling a more inclusive and productive economy.

The White Paper Review marks a critical moment in South Africa’s local governance reform journey, with voices from the business community playing a key role in shaping the path forward.

Information and pictures supplied by National COGTA

2025-08-01