2025 City-Wide Dialogue
Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Media Release
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa, yesterday met with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber as part of efforts to strengthen partnerships that drive economic growth, job creation, and service delivery through the District Development Model (DDM).
The engagement brought together representatives from the Business Chamber, Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), the Association of South African Chambers (ASAC), civil society, Treasury, CoGTA, and other stakeholders.
Minister Hlabisa commended the Chamber’s leadership for agreeing to having this engagement. Highlighting the central role of municipalities, Minister Hlabisa emphasised that functional municipalities create the enabling environment for investment and growth. “When water flows, refuse is collected, and sewage does not run down the streets, investors are eager to invest. But when the opposite becomes the daily reality, no investor wants to take that risk. Service delivery is not about pointing fingers; it is about creating an environment where businesses and communities can thrive,” he noted.
The Minister raised concerns about instability in municipal leadership, poor service delivery, and infrastructure decay in Nelson Mandela Bay, noting that the Metro has had several City Managers since 2016, mostly in an acting capacity. “Instability creates uncertainty. Every time you meet a new official, you wonder if they will still be in office next time. That environment is not conducive to investment,” he cautioned.
Minister Hlabisa pointed out that metros are home to nearly 62% of South Africa’s population, and their decline has a direct impact on national growth and development. He suggested mobilising expert teams, drawn from both government and the private sector, to craft turnaround strategies for cities monitored through clear timelines and accountability mechanisms. “I know that business leaders are willing to put resources into solutions if they can see accountability, transparency, and measurable progress. Treasury is here, and together we can ensure proper resource allocation where it is needed most,” he said.
The Minister also pointed to ongoing national interventions, including an inter-ministerial focus on the 10 worst-performing municipalities and 38 others flagged for urgent attention. However, he emphasised that Metros require special focus given their central role in driving growth.
Minister Hlabisa called for unity of purpose between business, government, and civil society. He proposed a national two-to-three-day engagement of all metros and business chambers to define problems, find solutions, and mobilise expert teams to drive turnaround strategies. “Our cities are collapsing. We must not work in silos. If we go alone, we may go faster, but if we go together, we go further,” he said.
The Minister thanked the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber for its proposals and pledged support from CoGTA. He committed to rebuilding broken relationships between metros and business, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that Metros function as true engines of the economy.
The meeting was welcomed by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and stakeholders as a step towards stronger accountability, collaboration, and restoring confidence in local governance.
Ends –
For Media Enquiries:
Ms. Pearl Maseko-Binqose
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of CoGTA
+27 (82) 772 1709
Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
#EveryMunicipalityMustWork
For more information, visit the COGTA Media Release website page here
Visit the NMB Transformation Christian Network page here to learn more about the City Dialogue