1. Context and Background

The 2026 White Paper on Local Government (WPLG) marks a pivotal shift in reimagining the capability, integrity, and performance of municipalities in South Africa. Chapter 5 of the WPLG places strong emphasis on human capital reform, professionalisation of the local government workforce, and the institutionalisation of ethical governance.

Persistent challenges such as weak administrative capacity, politicisation of appointments, lack of consequence management, and ethical lapses continue to undermine municipal performance and service delivery. These systemic issues point to the urgent need for a competent, ethical, and professional local government cadre that can deliver on developmental mandates.

This webinar, the last of the four webinars in the series, forms part of the 2026 WPLG Webinar Series and aims to unpack the proposed reforms, with a specific focus on how professionalisation, ethics, and performance management can be practically implemented and institutionalised.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this webinar is to:

• Unpack the human capital and governance reforms proposed in Chapter 5 of the WPLG.
• Explore the professionalisation of municipal administration and political leadership.
• Examine the role of capacity development institutions in building a capable state.
• Strengthen the link between ethical governance, accountability, and performance outcomes.
• Provide practical pathways for municipalities to implement these reforms.

3. Key Discussion Themes

The session will focus on the following thematic areas:

3.1 Professionalisation of Local Government

• Defining professionalisation in the municipal context.
• Minimum competency requirements and standardisation of roles.
• Depoliticisation of administration and merit-based appointments.
• Role of professional bodies in setting standards.

3.2 Capacity Development and Skills Building

• Current capacity gaps within municipalities.
• Role of structured training, accreditation, and continuous professional development.
• Strengthening partnerships between government, academia, and professional bodies.

3.3 Ethical Governance and Accountability

• Embedding ethical leadership across political and administrative structures.
• Strengthening consequence management frameworks.
• Role of oversight institutions in enforcing accountability.

3.4 Linking Professionalisation to Performance Management

• Aligning individual performance with institutional outcomes.
• Performance monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems.
• Building a culture of performance and service excellence.

3.5 Implementing the 2026 White Paper on Local Government Reforms

• Practical steps municipalities can take immediately.
• Legislative and institutional reforms required at national and provincial level.
• Risks and mitigation strategies.

4. Expected Outcomes

The webinar aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• Improved understanding of professionalisation reforms in the WPLG.
• Clear articulation of the link between ethics, capacity, and performance.
• Identification of practical implementation actions for municipalities.
• Strengthened collaboration between government, private sector, and professional institutions.
• Contribution to the broader dialogue on building a capable and ethical local government system.

5. Target Audience

Councillors and Oversight Committees (MPAC, Audit Committees), Accounting Officers (City and Municipal Managers), Municipal Executive Management, Chief Financial Officers, municipal officials including interns, professional bodies and training institutions, academia, think tanks, youth leaders, community leaders, development partners, and other stakeholders.

6. Conclusion

The professionalisation of local government is not optional - it is foundational to restoring credibility, improving service delivery, and achieving sustainable development outcomes.

By strengthening capacity, embedding ethical governance, and aligning performance systems, municipalities can transition toward a capable, accountable, and citizen-centred state as envisioned in the 2026 White Paper on Local Government.

This webinar provides a timely and strategic platform to advance the local governance reform agenda.