The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa is championing a new era of ethical leadership in local government.

Minister Hlabisa through a circular signed jointly with SALGA President Cllr Bheki Stofile, called on municipal councils to adopt the newly established Code for Ethical Leadership in Local Government and send their resolutions to the MECs responsible for local government. The Minister has also urged councils to implement the Code swiftly, with a clear timeframe for action.

Launched in March 2024 during the Local Government Summit on Ethical Leadership, the Code was developed through the Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative (LGELI) in partnership with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (DCOG), The Ethics Institute, SALGA, and the Moral Regeneration Movement.

The Code is a cornerstone of the Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy, aiming to build a sector committed to ethical standards, service delivery, and good governance. It addresses corruption head-on, ensuring incidents are dealt with swiftly and justly while embedding a professional culture of ethics within municipalities.

Unlike the Code of Conduct for Councillors or Municipal Staff, this Code provides local government leaders with guidance on navigating key issues that impact ethical governance, creating well-governed and effective municipalities. The Code applies to both the political and administrative municipal leaders.

“For the Code to truly make a difference, it must become central to municipal discourse and be adopted by municipalities nationwide,” said Minister Hlabisa. “Its principles must be consistently implemented by municipal leaders.”

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For further enquiries, please contact:
Ms Neliswa Chiloane 
066 333 0014
Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA)