The HSRC’s Developmental, Capable and Ethical State Division invites you to join our seminar titled, White Paper on Local Government (WPLG26): Enhancing Urban Development and more Sustainable Human Settlements. The Draft Revised White Paper on Local Government (WPLG26) is the culmination of a long and thorough process to support government in improving local governance across South Africa.

It reviews the original 1998 policy and aims to reset and modernise the local government system. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has gazetted the draft document, inviting input to strengthen municipal governance, financial sustainability, spatial transformation and service delivery.

In collaboration with CoGTA, we are hosting a seminar to present some of the key proposals and its implications for urban development and human settlements. The discussion will be centered on issues of housing, economic opportunities, infrastructure and basic services, looking at how these could be better funded and delivered. This is an opportunity to stimulate debate and encourage the public to submit comments to further strengthen the WPLG26 by 28 May 2026, when the public commenting period closes.

Date: 27 May 2026

Time: 11:00

Venue: Pretoria/ Cape Town/ Online

Registration link:   https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uJoSKb39TK6UfjHCpof2xA

Event enquiries: dsanchez@hsrc.ac.za