Government is updating the 1998 White Paper on Local Government.

The draft (due March 2026) will tackle corruption, municipal finances, poor service delivery, and climate-responsive governance.

The review of the White Paper on Local Government (WPLG) is now under way by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and an updated draft is expected to be ready to be presented to the minister by March 2026.

The process, which began in May this year, was needed to review and update the 1998 version of the White Paper on Local Government. According to the Parliamentary Monitoring Group  “this process aims to address systemic shortcomings in the original framework, such as limited revenue generation, declining service delivery, and the need for a more professional public service.”

Government has called the 1988 document an important “policy framework [that] not only expanded access to basic services for millions but also defined the local government sphere as one that works closely with citizens and other societal entities to address social, economic, and material needs while improving the quality of life. The original White Paper was visionary in its approach, introducing a developmental model emphasising collaboration and community participation.”

But it has also acknowledged that after nearly three decades “certain structural and systemic assumptions made in the document require reassessment.”

Cogta has set out nine key areas to be addressed in an updated draft. These are financial and fiscal reform; combating unethical behaviour and poor accountability; depoliticising municipal governance, restoring relationships with communities, integrating traditional governance systems, strengthening oversight at the national and provincial levels, improving cooperative governance; embracing climate-responsive governance, and tackling persistent spatial inequality.

Citizens had till 31 July 2025 to comment on the discussion document. The anti-corruption watch group OUTA called for getting to the bottom of the systemic issues surrounding the failures of local government and added in their statement:

“A new White Paper on Local Government must tackle the root problems and, most importantly, be put into action. If not, local government will continue to fail. The core of the problem is failed leadership, not inadequate law or policy.”

OUTA also outlined their key concerns and challenges of what has plagued local government for the past three decades. These include:

·       Service delivery failures (water, electricity, refuse, housing).

·       Municipal finances in crisis (billions in debt to Eskom and water boards).

·       Governance breakdowns (fraud, corruption, cadre deployment).

·       Capacity challenges (many municipalities lack skilled staff).