Joburg Mayor urges results-driven local government
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says the government can no longer implement paper-driven development plans and budgets.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the ongoing dialogue regarding the review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government in Midrand, Morero called for a more result-driven government.
The White Paper on Local Government, adopted in South Africa in 1998, established a framework for developmental local government, emphasising citizen participation and collaboration to address social, economic, and material needs.
The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Velinkosi Hlabisa, is reviewing the policy framework, with a focus on addressing challenges in governance, financial management, and service delivery.
Citing the ANC’s 1992 ready-to-govern guidelines, Morero reminded the government of its core values ahead of the 2026 local government election.
"We must serve the people of South Africa. The political home that placed me on this seat led the transitional of local government and for us, it made it clear that and I quote, ‘Local government should actively promote the processes of sustainable and participatory community development, the government should address unemployment and poverty through local and economic development and promotion of local sector activities’,” said Morero.
The mayor said the local government should take steps to protect the interests of the poor through employment and access to housing.
"I thought I should reflect on the ready-to-govern guidelines because it addresses, at its centre, what local government should be doing," said Morero.
He added that as political parties contribute to the review of the White Paper on Local Government, they should not forget that they are positioned to serve.
"We must be developmental in nature and our solutions must solve complex local government problems."
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