Source: Government of South Africa
Thursday, December 4, 2025
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will lead a high-level strategic engagement with key stakeholders in Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape, on Saturday, 6 December.
This session follows the initial meeting held on 26 September and seeks to deepen collaboration between government, business and civil society.
The department said the engagement will bring together the Ministry of CoGTA, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality, Eastern Cape CoGTA, and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
Hlabisa will be accompanied by the Eastern Cape CoGTA MEC, Zolile Williams.
“During the previous engagement, concerns were raised about instability in municipal leadership, service delivery failures, and infrastructure deterioration — challenges that have long constrained the metro’s economic potential.
“The need for predictable governance, operational improvements, and strengthened partnerships to support investment and job creation was also highlighted,” CoGTA said.
This upcoming strategic session will review progress made since the September meeting and provide a platform for key sectors to present their perspectives.
The programme will provide an overview of the Nelson Mandela Bay economy, present the Nelson Mandela Bay Civil Society Coalition’s perspective on the socio-economic conditions in the metro, and discuss the state of the municipality.
In addition, it will address plans to tackle service delivery challenges and explore opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.
The department stated that this strategic engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships that drive economic recovery, job creation, and improved service delivery through the District Development Model (DDM). – SAnews.gov.za