In this post, we dive into the exciting conclusion of the Developmental Leadership Programme, where local leaders from Gamagara and Tsantsabane came together to transform their learning into action. Discover how these sessions are setting the stage for a brighter, more collaborative future in the region!

Dive into our latest blog post where Elsona van Huyssteen and Vickesh Bholai break down the key lessons learned from an independent evaluation of the Municipal Capability and Partnership Programme (MCPP). Discover how this initiative has shaped municipal partnerships over the past six years and what it means for future collaborations!

Through ongoing engagement, collaboration, and strategic alignment, the stakeholders that are part of the Gamagara-Tsantsabane Mining Region Compact continues to strengthen a shared regional vision for inclusive economic transition and resilience. As partners work together to address regional challenges and opportunities, such ongoing compacting provides a platform for coordinated action, as well as long-term planning, for collective impact at scale. As momentum continues to build, the regional transition pathways and enabling environment is shaped by municipal, government and industry leadership and processes through a range of formal and informal processes and instruments.

In this blog post, we dive into the world of collaborative leadership and its role in regional development. As municipalities gear up for their IDP and Spatial Development Framework discussions, this blog explores how the upcoming session of the Developmental Leadership Programme aims to foster teamwork and innovation.

Planning in Mogalakwena and Gamagara Municipalities has been constrained by fragmentation, limited participation and short-term thinking. Recent Spatial Development Framework compilations highlight that these processes should be understood and valued as dynamic, collaborative endeavours that foster alignment and shared learning, rather than merely producing a static document.

Representatives from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mandela Mining Precinct, Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)

The CSIR Smart Places team collaborated with Kagiso Trust, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Synergos to host an executive roundtable on Collaborative Governance at Local Level on 11 September 2025. The session, facilitated by Prof. Andrew Boraine, a leading practitioner in partnering and systems change, was designed to contribute to the ongoing review of the White Paper on Local Government.

In regions where economic pressures, service delivery demands and institutional limitations converge, collaboration becomes more than a strategy – it becomes a lifeline.

Forging a Resilient Future: Mine–Municipal Collaboration in the Northern Cape. In South Africa’s Northern Cape, a transformative partnership is reshaping the future of mining towns.

Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality, facing high unemployment and food insecurity, launched a food security initiative in 2022.

The Blouberg Local Municipality has a strong track record of utilizing grant funding for infrastructure development, including the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP).

The Thabazimbi Local Municipality is working towards a stronger, more inclusive economy while addressing critical water management challenges.

What does it take to transform municipal service delivery and a rural region’s future? For Moses Kotane, the answer lies in collaboration, strategic planning, and a shared vision for the future.

Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM), formed through the amalgamation of Fetakgomo and Tubatse, faces significant challenges in planning and development.

Uniting for Water: Mogalakwena Local Municipality’s Collaborative Approach to Service Delivery (2021 – 2024)

Water loss was a major issue in Mogalakwena, with 56.6% of water lost due to leaks and inefficiencies. Aging infrastructure and poor inventory management exacerbated the problem.

In a country as water scarce as South Africa, every drop counts. But in Moses Kotane Local Municipality, providing clean, safe water to communities is a daily struggle.

Thabazimbi Local Municipality (TZLM) faces significant challenges in wastewater management, these challenges include outdated infrastructure, non-functional treatment plants, and a lack of operational support.

Mogalakwena Local Municipality relies on boreholes to supply water to rural and peri-urban areas.

Moses Kotane Local Municipality (MKLM) is a largely rural municipality with 107 dispersed villages that are largely dependent on boreholes for water access.

In the Mogalakwena Local Municipality, the traditional authorities (TAs) of Mapela and of Mokopane collectively guide the growth of about 44 villages around the Mogalakwena mine.

Mogalakwena Local Municipality’s growth was uncoordinated and unsustainable. Mines, traditional authorities, and government entities were operating in silos, leading to conflicts over land use and resource allocation.

Mogalakwena Local Municipality’s outdated land-use management system hindered economic development.

Mogalakwena’s Local Economic Development (LED) team was under pressure to update its 2006 strategy. The team was demotivated and struggling to rebuild relationships post-COVID, leaving the municipality’s economic future in jeopardy.