White Paper on Local Government Review Process

Submission on the White Paper Review Discussion Document The Department of Cooperative Government (DCOG) is currently reviewing the 1998 Local Government White Paper, and has recently called for comment on a short review document it published this year. The 1998 White Paper has largely provided the policy vision and foundations for the local government system in South Africa over the last 25 years. It is important that the public, including civil society, academics, and other stakeholders, engage with this review process. In our submission, we argue that the vision for local government outlined in the White Paper of 1998 remains relevant and appropriate, a vision which draws its inspiration from the South African Constitution and the struggle for a democratic and socially just society. Although the experience of democratic local government over the last 25 years has necessitated a review of some of the assumptions about how the system should function, such as the funding models for municipalities, the aspirations of the White Paper – that of developmental, democratic, redistributive, cooperative government – should be reaffirmed. PARI’s submission are primarily related to addressing the underlying causes of decline. It is primarily focused on the immediate task of stabilising the administration and finances of government to enable the local state to turn its attention towards the range of developmental challenges facing our cities and towns. It also underscores the need to do this in a way that reaffirms commitment to local democracy and pro-poor service delivery.