Reimagining Local Democracy – Reflections from the DDP Local Government Conference 2025
On October 16, 2025, the Democracy Development Program (DDP) hosted its highly anticipated Local Government Conference in Durban, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders committed to strengthening South Africa’s municipal governance. The conference, themed “Reimagining Local Democracy: Accountability, Participation, and Renewal in South Africa’s Municipal Sphere,” served as a timely platform for reflection and action as the country prepares for the 2026 local government elections.
The event opened with a compelling keynote address by Honourable Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal. His remarks underscored the urgent need to restore ethical leadership, rebuild public trust, and enforce accountability across municipalities. The opening session also featured messages of support from Dr Paul Kariuki, Executive Director of DDP, Dr Devi Rajab, Chairperson of the DDP Board, and Mr Gregor Jaecke, Country Director of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung South Africa, all of whom emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue and collaborative reform.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions and shared insights on the state of local democracy. The first panel explored the challenges of declining accountability and the erosion of public confidence in municipal institutions. Experts from the Independent Electoral Commission, the Auditor General’s office, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal highlighted systemic issues such as legislative non-compliance, weak oversight, and the lack of consequence management.
The second session showcased innovative case studies from youth leaders and municipal officials, focusing on participatory governance and community engagement. These presentations offered practical examples of how local governments can renew service delivery and foster citizen involvement in decision-making processes.
A key highlight of the conference was the presentation of a civil society submission developed through a national policy dialogue convened by DDP and Kagiso Trust in July 2025. This submission, endorsed by over 25 organisations, proposes both immediate interventions and long-term reforms to build a responsive, inclusive, and accountable local government system. Recommendations include fiscal reform, ethical leadership, depoliticisation of municipal administration, enhanced citizen participation, integration of traditional governance, climate resilience, spatial justice, and digital transformation.
The conference also reflected on the latest audit findings from the Auditor General’s MFMA 2023/24 report, which revealed alarming levels of financial mismanagement, poor governance, and institutional failure across municipalities. With only 16% of municipalities achieving clean audits and billions lost to irregular and unauthorised expenditure, the need for urgent reform was made abundantly clear.
In closing, the DDP Local Government Conference 2025 reaffirmed the critical role of civil society in shaping democratic governance and holding institutions accountable. It provided a space for collective reflection, learning, and mobilization, laying the groundwork for meaningful change ahead of the 2026 elections. DDP remains committed to supporting communities, fostering inclusive dialogue, and advancing the principles of participatory democracy in South Africa.
Watch the full event video here
