COMPACT National Research Conference 2025
“Reimagining Developmental Local Government: New Approaches to Legacy Challenges”
On 1 and 2 December, COMPACT and SALGA are hosting a national research conference under the theme “Reimagining Developmental Local Government: New Approaches to Legacy Challenges” in Gauteng. COMPACT is a partnership between the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Integrity Action (IA), and 12 participating partner local municipalities across six provinces in South Africa. The COMPACT programme aims to enhance participation and planning at the local government level to improve accountability within South African municipalities.
This year’s conference coincides with significant milestones: the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s first democratic local government elections, and the review of the notable 1998 White Paper on Local Government. As the sector approaches potential legislative changes, the 2025 COMPACT Research Conference remains committed to fostering renewal and advancement within local governance. By reflecting on three decades of experience, the conference seeks to address longstanding challenges and generate practical recommendations to guide both the administration of local government and the drafting of proposed amendments for the forthcoming 2026 White Paper on Local Government.
While the challenges and discontents of local government have been well-documented, the tone of this conference shifts towards advocating for specific changes from an informed basis. It rides the wave of contemporary sentiments of change, renewal and progress to harness valuable insights that can be incorporated tangibly into the forthcoming administration of local government and the imminent legislative amendments that will need to align with the 2026 White Paper on Local Government. The conference seeks to explore the intersection of accountability, citizen participation, and effective development planning in local government, with a focus on:
- Reimagining accountability and transparency in local governance
- Innovations in citizen participation and co-production
- Strategies for overcoming persistent legacy challenges
- The future of developmental local government in a changing policy landscape
The COMPACT National Research Conference will convene researchers, policymakers, and local government practitioners to engage in thoughtful reflections on research findings within the evolving political and legislative context of the sector. A call for a research papers and provocations resulted in a great response from those within local government, civil society and academia. Selected papers and provocations are being presented across different sessions, along with roundtables on policy and practice.
