By Chalotte Mokonyane
A collective of civil society organisations, including the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) and Kagiso Trust, has submitted a bold proposal to the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), calling for sweeping reforms to address widespread dysfunction and corruption in South Africa’s municipalities.
The joint submission comes as part of a broader national review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. According to News24, the government has acknowledged the dire state of the local government sector, which is plagued by financial mismanagement, poor service delivery, and instability. The Cogta review has signalled that a significant shake-up is on the cards. Government proposals under consideration include a reduction in the number of municipalities, stricter spending curbs, and a complete revamp of the municipal funding model.
The submission, therefore, serves as a direct and detailed contribution to this ongoing process, offering a perspective from outside the government on how best to approach these critical reforms.
“Our view at the PSAM is that there are various aspects of the local government governance framework that need revisiting and improvement, but ultimately, whether it’s replaced or overhauled, it will still require that civil servants and elected representatives comply with the law,” PSAM Director Jay Kruuse said.
“If that doesn’t happen, then there have to be consequences, and that’s where we’ve failed largely across various municipalities. It’s a disregard for legislation and a failure on the part of leaders to take action against those implicated. We hope there will be reforms that will result in better compliance, and if they aren’t, then there should be real consequences for those who break the law.”
Kruuse emphasised that the submission is a collaborative effort, drawing on diverse expertise to tackle the systemic issues plaguing local government. “Organisations that have an interest in bringing about reforms to the way local government operates contributed,” he said.
The submission paints a stark picture of a system in crisis and offers a series of urgent interventions.
A new approach to municipal debt
One of the most pressing issues addressed is the persistent failure of municipalities to collect revenue, which Kruuse attributes not to the public’s unwillingness to pay but to the municipalities’ own poor management. The submission proposes a municipal debt recovery campaign.
“The problem with many municipalities is that their indigent household databases are out of date,” Kruuse explained. This leads to the unfair pursuit of vulnerable households for debt they cannot afford, while genuine revenue collection efforts fall short. The proposed campaign would focus on ethical and effective revenue management, ensuring that “indigent households qualify for exemptions and shouldn’t necessarily attract punitive impacts”.
Ending political interference and promoting professionalism
A central theme of the submission is the need to professionalise municipal administration and insulate it from political meddling. Kruuse pointed to two key factors behind the widespread dysfunction: the appointment of unqualified individuals and direct political interference in the day-to-day work of civil servants.
To counter this, the submission makes two significant proposals:
- A longer term of office for senior managers: it advocates for a “hybrid model” that decouples the tenure of senior managers from the political cycle. By giving them a longer term, it would provide greater job security and allow skilled managers to remain in their positions even after local elections, reducing the high turnover that hinders progress.
- PSC oversight: The submission proposes a formal role for the Public Service Commission (PSC) in the recruitment of senior municipal positions. Kruuse believes this would “limit the potential for abuse” and strengthen the verification process to ensure that candidates meet the required qualifications, moving away from a system based on “political sympathy”.
The call for a more streamlined system
Kruuse did not mince words when describing the current structure, saying “we have far too many municipalities that are costing the public purse too much, are under-delivering, and are not implementing consequence management”. This civil society collective believes that a more streamlined, less bureaucratic system is necessary.
The submission suggests replacing dysfunctional municipalities with larger, more effective ones. This would “result in a more streamlined local government and a more functional local government, one that is leaner,” he said. The ultimate goal is a local government that works for its communities, removing the frustration that has led to a lack of public participation and, in some cases, protest.
Increasing funding, but with conditions
While acknowledging that some well-run municipalities are under-resourced and could benefit from increased funding, the submission is clear that more money is not the only answer. It suggests a potential increase in the local government funding allocation, but this would be contingent on a municipality’s ability to demonstrate proper financial management.
“It’s hard to make a case that we want more money when you can’t show what you’re doing with your money,” Kruuse remarked, referencing municipalities that consistently receive disclaimed audit opinions, like Makana. The message is simple: fix the house first before asking for more resources.
Restoring public trust
The submission also tackles the deep-seated distrust between citizens and their government. Kruuse noted that despite constitutional requirements for public consultation, the process is often a one-way street, with citizens feeling their voices are not heard.
To rectify this, the collective is urging for the establishment of legislated “participation standards” with “enforceable consequences” to ensure that engagement is meaningful. Additionally, the submission floats the ambitious idea of a citizen-led scorecard that could be used as a mechanism for the recall of underperforming ward councillors, a power currently held only by political parties.
For Kruuse and the contributing organisations, the proposals are not about a quick fix but about laying the groundwork for a more accountable, transparent, and responsive local government. The hope is that the submission will contribute towards a future when municipalities can “get on top of abuse of office” and truly serve their communities.
