Governance specialist, columnist and lawyer, Judith February, writes for the Daily Maverick on the state of local government in South Africa.

The Auditor-General (AG), Kimi Makwetu, on 23 May 2018 reported an overall deterioration in the audit results of South Africa’s municipalities for 2016-17. Makwetu says despite his office’s constant and insistent advice and caution to governance and oversight officials about administrative lapses since 2013, their counsel has largely not been heeded.

Minister of the National Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Zweli Mkhize, delivered the annual COGTA Budget Vote speech to the National Assembly on 15 May 2018. The speech included a briefing on the state of local government and a plan for the year ahead. 

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) hosted the 6th Local Government Week from 8 to 10 May 2018 at Parliament in Cape Town. The programme provided an opportunity for national reflection on issues affecting local government.

The first Good Governance Learning Network (GGLN) Members Meeting of 2018 was held on 14 & 15 March 2018 in Stellenbosch. The key face-to-face knowledge exchange, learning and collaboration event in the Network’s annual calendar, the Meeting was widely supported with broad representation across member organisations and well-received by participants.