East london: South African Local Government Association (SALGA) President Bheke Stofile emphasized the importance of transforming the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) into a dynamic tool that aligns community priorities with municipal budgets to enhance service delivery and position municipalities as investment hubs. "The IDP must become a living economic contract with measurable projects, clear responsibilities and firm timelines, not a document remembered only when compliance is tested," Stofile stated.
According to South African Government News Agency, Stofile made these remarks at the SALGA Eastern Cape Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) Investment Lekgotla, currently being held at KuGompo City in East London. The Eastern Cape organized the PEC Investment Lekgotla as part of the SALGA Provincial Members Assembly (PMA), which gathers municipal leaders, government stakeholders, and investors to assess the socio-economic progress achieved during the 6th term of Local Government Administration.
The PMA serves as the highest constitutional decision-making platform for SALGA's member municipalities in the province, offering a strategic forum to review achievements, address ongoing challenges, and set priorities for enhancing local governance and accelerating service delivery. In line with the SALGA Constitution, the two-day Assembly, commencing on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, will adopt the province's programme of action, business plan, and budget, review reports from provincial structures and oversight bodies, and deliberate on issues impacting municipalities across the Eastern Cape.
The event began with a Local Government Investment Promotion Lekgotla aimed at promoting municipalities as appealing investment destinations and unlocking new opportunities for local economic development. The session will highlight bankable municipal projects, promote public-private partnerships, facilitate interactions between municipalities and investors, and bolster efforts to create investment-ready local governments capable of driving inclusive economic growth.
Municipalities from across the province will showcase investment-ready opportunities, while key economic development departments and institutions will explain the support available to stimulate local economic development and attract investment into communities.
Stofile cautioned that the fiscal narrative of local government remains incomplete as debts owed by government departments, businesses, and households are often neglected, yet timely payment of municipal accounts is crucial for service delivery.
On the second day of the Assembly, Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zolile Williams is expected to review the achievements of the 6th Administration and outline priorities for the incoming 7th Administration. His address will focus on reinforcing cooperative governance and accelerating service delivery outcomes for communities.
The Provincial Members Assembly comes at a pivotal time for local government, offering an opportunity to reflect on the progress made over the past 30 years and celebrating three decades of SALGA's advocacy for developmental local government. The Assembly also aims to prepare Eastern Cape municipalities for the future by strengthening governance, attracting investment, and fostering inclusive economic growth that leads to improved livelihoods and better services for communities across the province.
Source: South African Government News Agency