Leaders from South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities gathered in Cape Town for a groundbreaking meeting organized by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), aiming to tackle shared challenges and foster collaborative strategies for urban development.
The inaugural Metro Mayors Meeting, held on August 28, focused on enhancing metropolitan governance amid economic pressures and service delivery demands. Hosted by the City of Cape Town, the event underscored the pivotal role of metros, which contribute more than 55% to the national economy.
In his opening remarks, Cape Town Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stressed the importance of stronger ties among mayors. “We must prioritize collaboration and knowledge-sharing to drive progress in our cities,” he said.
SALGA President Bheke Stofile echoed this sentiment, describing local government as the foundation of the nation. “Local government is akin to the legs—without strong legs, the entire body falters,” Stofile stated. “By strengthening our metros, we enhance the state, boost the economy, and improve the daily lives of our citizens.”
The discussions centered on six key areas:
Modernizing Municipal Services: Participants urged updates to water, electricity, and waste management systems, including clearer agreements with Eskom, transparent tariffs from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), and innovative delivery methods.
Reviewing the White Paper on Local Government: Mayors committed to a unified stance on coalition stability, devolving functions like housing and passenger rail, and bolstering local autonomy.
Professionalizing Local Government: Emphasis was placed on implementing a framework to attract young talent, minimize political interference, and instill citizen-focused principles under Batho Pele.
Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability: Leaders highlighted the disparity where municipalities handle nearly half of government functions but receive only 10% of national revenue. They pledged to push for fairer funding, new revenue sources, and resolution of intergovernmental debts.
Improving Bulk Water Governance: Calls were made for metros to gain more control over infrastructure and Water Boards, with better collaboration from the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Enhancing Intergovernmental Relations via the District Development Model (DDM): The group agreed the DDM should support, not undermine, metro authority, with SALGA developing dispute resolution mechanisms.
The meeting concluded with a pledge for quarterly gatherings to sustain momentum. “We are committed to building strong partnerships with our metro municipalities to address challenges and drive progress,” Stofile added.
SALGA hailed the session as a foundational step toward resilient, innovative cities that fuel South Africa’s growth. The association thanked all participants and the City of Cape Town for facilitating the event.
