Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa recently convened a high-level engagement session with executive mayors of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities to address persistent governance challenges and service delivery failures in the country’s major cities.
The meeting, held on March 20, 2026, at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, focused on strengthening intergovernmental relations, improving service provision, and preparing for the upcoming local government elections scheduled between November 2, 2026, and early 2027. Minister Hlabisa emphasized the critical role of metros, which house approximately 62% of South Africa’s population and serve as key engines of economic growth.
However, Jonathan Moakes, political director of the SABI Strategy Group, described the initiative as coming “a little too late,” occurring just six to eight months before the municipal polls. He suggested the timing was influenced by electoral pressures, noting that voter concerns over local service delivery—highlighted in the recent State of the Nation Address—have become a major political issue.
Moakes acknowledged surface-level alignment among participants, with leaders across party lines discussing necessary reforms. Yet he questioned the practical impact, given the short timeframe remaining in the current municipal term. “What does cooperation mean with six to eight months to go?” he asked, pointing out that meaningful change would require systemic reforms rather than immediate fixes.
The engagement aligns with the ongoing review of the local government White Paper, a process Minister Hlabisa has been driving. Moakes noted that broader transformation of the local government system, including outcomes from the White Paper review and post-election political stability, would determine long-term progress.
Metros have faced consistent failures in meeting basic maintenance benchmarks due to multiple factors. Moakes highlighted political instability—particularly in Gauteng metros such as Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Johannesburg—where frequent changes in administrations prioritize political survival and coalition deals over service delivery. Other issues include financial mismanagement, wasteful and irregular expenditure, poor revenue collection, and under-spending on capital infrastructure budgets. He also cited incompetence, mismanagement, and the absence of capable personnel at both political and administrative levels.
National and provincial governments owe significant payments to metros, though Moakes indicated these are expected to be resolved by April.
The push for improvement appears driven in part by voter pressure. Moakes observed that declining election turnout, especially in local government polls, has heightened the focus on rebuilding public trust. Political leaders across parties are keen to boost participation and avoid low turnout.
Adding to the reform landscape, the National Treasury recently launched a performance-based incentive program worth up to R54 billion over six years. The Metro Trading Services Reform aims to encourage metros to operate more “business-like,” with funds tied to meeting approved performance targets in areas such as water, sanitation, electricity, and waste infrastructure. Municipalities must match grants with their own revenue and borrowings to unlock the full amount, potentially mobilizing over R100 billion in investments.
Moakes welcomed the initiative but stressed it remains a policy promise, with success depending on genuine action. He linked it to broader efforts, including the District Development Model and cooperation frameworks.
Coalition governments, now common in many metros, have largely hurt service delivery by fostering instability, constant leadership changes, and focus on political positioning rather than governance, Moakes argued. Residents in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane could attest to this, he said. While South Africa has become “coalition country,” he called for stronger frameworks—potentially modeled on the national Government of National Unity—to enhance stability and effectiveness.
On accountability, Moakes expressed skepticism about real consequences for underperforming municipalities before the elections, doubting major interventions that might “rock the boat” so close to polling. He predicted continued instability in the lead-up to the vote, with the ultimate judgment coming at the ballot box.
Minister Hlabisa’s engagement and related reforms reflect growing recognition of local government’s challenges, but analysts like Moakes caution that timing and implementation will determine whether these efforts translate into tangible improvements for residents.