The White Paper on Local Government
9 March 1998

The White Paper is dedicated to the memory of Tshepiso Mashinini (1966-1998), chairperson of the White Paper Working Committee, and all the other women and men who contributed to the building of a democratic system of local government in South Africa

CONTENTS
Foreword by Minister Mohammed Valli Moosa
Foreword by Mr Pravin Gordhan
Introduction
SECTION A: CURRENT REALITY
1.
A history of local government
2.

The current state of local government
2.1.
The different forms of municipality
2.2.
Local government finance
2.3.
Administration
2.4.
Legislative complexity
2.5.
Powers and functions
2.6.
Global and national trends
2.7.
The transition process

3.

Settlement patterns and trends
3.1.
Introduction
3.2.
Settlement types
3.3.
The implications of current settlement patterns

4.

Defining the challenge for local government
4.1.
Challenges facing South African municipalities

5.

Concluding comment

SECTION B: DEVELOPMENTAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1.
Characteristics of developmental local government
1.1.
Maximising social development and economic growth
1.2.
Integrating and coordinating
1.3.
Democratising development, empowering and redistributing
1.4.
Leading and learning
2.

Developmental outcomes of local government
2.1.
Provision of household infrastructure and services
2.2.
Creation of liveable, integrated cities, towns and rural areas
2.3.
Local economic development
2.3.1. Reviewing existing policies and procedures to enhance employment and investment
2.3.2. Provision of special economic services

3.

Tools and approaches for developmental local government
3.1.
Integrated development planning, budgeting and performance monitoring
3.1.1. Why do integrated development planning?
3.1.2. The legislative framework
3.1.3. What is required of