CLG

Centre for Local Governance

Centre for Local Governance

​The SPL through its various academic programmes and the provision of a range of degree training and consultancy services to ​all three spheres of government has developed a keen insight into the challenges that face local government in South Africa. It is apparent from these engagements that there are significant skills deficits in the sphere of local government.

While it is acknowledged that significant advances have been made since 1994, it is clear that much more needs to be done to overcome the deep and seemingly intractable legacy of apartheid. In this regard the SPL can play a vital role in offering specifically focused and customised training programmes to enhance the performance elected and appointed officials in local and provincial government.

Extensive consultation is taking place with local government officials and councillors to ensure that the programmes to be offered by the CLG address demand and are appropriately targeted.

The objective of the CLG is to improve the performance of local government through research, innovation, training and community interaction.

The CLG will therefore seek to:

  • Provide opportunities for world class research on local and provincial government challenges, locally, nationally, in Africa and internationally.
  • Be a repository for access to state of the art resources and a knowledge hub for local government academics, researchers, officials, councillors and non-governmental agencies.
  • Provide opportunities for learning and growth and to develop a new generation of though leaders in the field of local government.

Latest Article​s

​​No one-size-fits-all f​or coalition governme​​nts

Dr Harlan Cloete | Nov ​​11, 2021

​Evidance over the past five years shows that such deals have collapsed. A month before the recent local government elections I sat down with Johann Mettler, the former Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and Clarence Johnson, the former mayor of the Cape Winelands District Municipality.

Towards a municipal fina​ncial and operational ​sustainability strategy for the Western Cape

Prof Tania Ajam​,​Prof JohanBurger,Prof Geo Quinot,Ms Melissa Botha,Ms Deyana Isaacs &Mr Johnny Douglas | May 2021 Areport for the Western Cape Department of LocalGovernment ​

The impact of th​e Covid-19 ​pandemic on district municipalities in the Western Cape

Tania Ajam, Johan Burger, Geo Quinot, Melissa Botha, Deyana Isaacs & Johnny Douglas |Oct 26, 2021

The School for Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation conducted a research study on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on municipal fiscal sustainability in the Western Cape (WC) province, which was completed in April 2021. The district municipalities (DMs) in the sample included Central Karoo, West Coast and Cape Winelands. This article aims to distil the key findings relating to DMs from that study. A previous Local Government Bulletin article dealt with sampled WC local municipalities.

Streamlining the​​ administrative burden in Western Cape Municipalities​

​ Geo Quinot, Johan Burger, Tania Ajam, Melissa Botha, Deyana Isaacs & Jonny Douglas | Oct 26,2021

The School for Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation conducted a research study on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on municipal fiscal sustainability in the Western Cape (WC) province, which was completed in ​April 2021.

Towards increased ​​fiscal and operational sustainability in Western Cape Local Municipalities​

Tania Ajam, Johan Burger, Geo Quinot, Meliss​a Botha, Deyana Isaacs & Johnny Douglas | Oct 26, 2021

The School for Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation conducted a research study on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on municipal fiscal sustainability in the Western Cape (WC) province, which was completed in April2021. The local municipalities in the sample included Stellenbosch, Drakenstein (large municipalities), Bergrivier, Hessequa (medium-sized municipalities) and Swellendam, Kannaland and Laingsburg (small municipalities).

The impact of th​​e Covid-19 pandemic on local municipalities in the Western Cape​

Tania Ajam, Johan Burger, Geo Quinot, Melissa Botha, Deyana Isaacs & Johnny Douglas |Oct 25, 2021​

The School forPublic Leadership at Stellenbosch University in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation conducted a research study on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on municipal fiscal sustainability in the Western Cape (WC) province, which completed in April 2021. The local municipalities (LMs) ​​​in the sample included Stellenbosch, Drakenstein (large municipalities), Bergrivier, Hessequa (medium sized municipalities) and Swellendam, Kannaland and Laingsburg (small municipalities). This article aims to distil the key findings from that study.

Middle Management Mentoring and Coaching Programme for Local Government

SPL Reporter &Western Cape Dept Local Government On 9 September 2021, selected Mentors (Municipal Managers) and Mentees came together for a one-day Orientation Workshop at the Durbanville Conference Centre for the Middle Management Mentoring and Coaching Programme.

The Ethical Lead​ership in Local Government Seminars for Local Municipal Councillors Mr Johnny Douglas & Levert Louw|8 November 2019 ​

SPL in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the Western Cape Department of Local Government hosts the Councillor Summer School on Ethics and My personal Value system.

​​​​​​​Municipal Sustainability Study Fact Sheets​

The downloadablefact sheets belowarebased on a research study on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on municipal fiscal sustainability in the Western Cape (WC). The study was commissioned by the WC Department of Local Government, and wasconducted by the School for Public Leadership at the Stellenbosch University, with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.

Contact Details​

Director: SPL

Academic Head: Social Impact

Administrator: Social Impact