Ramaphosa Launches Revised White Paper on Local Government

Overview

• President Cyril Ramaphosa will formally launch the Cabinet-approved Revised White Paper on Local Government on Thursday, 22 October 2026 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni.
• The launch unveils an Implementation Plan and a Transition Management Body meant to move the White Paper from policy text to on-the-ground action by guiding and managing municipal transitions.
• The White Paper sets a differentiated approach that treats metropolitan, secondary-city, rural and small-town municipalities according to their different capacities, finances and service needs.
• The event will convene political and administrative leaders from all 257 municipalities plus national and provincial officials, Parliament, oversight bodies, organised local government, traditional leaders, labour, business, civil society and development partners.
• The package is backed by a Research Compendium and builds on the 2022 Presidential Local Government Summit and the 2026 SONA pledge; successful delivery will hinge on cross-sphere coordination, funding and stronger municipal capacity to restore reliable services for communities.