Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative
The Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative (LGELI) is a collaborative multi-year project involving The Ethics Institute, the National Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM).
What are LGELI's Objectives?
LGELI aims to foster a nationwide conversation on ethical leadership within local government, ultimately leading to the formulation of a Code for Ethical Governance in South African Local Government. This initiative aligns with the 2016 Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy (LGACS), which commits to facilitating a national dialogue on governance and ethical leadership in municipalities. The LGACS seeks to create a widely consulted document that not only articulates abstract values but also outlines practical ways to implement good governance and ethical leadership. This document, envisioned in the LGACS, now takes the form of the “Code for Ethical Governance for Local Government in South Africa” (the Code).
Code for ethical leadership in local government
Through a three-year process of dialogue and research, the LGELI project developed the Code for Ethical Leadership in Local Government.
The Code was officially launched on 1 March 2024.
Please download a copy of the Code. There is the complete version, as well as a short (4-page) summary version.
Making the code ‘real’
The Code is voluntary in that it requires a personal moral commitment. Nonetheless, municipalities can promote the institutionalisation of the Code by:
- Adopting the Code in a council resolution
- Discussing the content of the Code in meetings
- Training for municipal leadersÂ
- Please contact us about training opportunities – lgeli@tei.org.zaÂ
Additional Resources
This video is an extract from the Ethics in Local Government course, freely available to municipal officials on The National School of Government’s website.
The Code was developed in response to research conducted across municipalities in all nine provinces. This document provides an overview of the key research findings.
The Code was developed in response to research conducted across municipalities in all nine provinces. This document provides an overview of the key research findings.
Leading the Way in Ethical Governance
The following municipalities have taken a significant step in ethical governance by adopting the Code for Ethical Governance for Local Government in South Africa. We are proud to share that we have now reached a milestone of 51 municipalities who have adopted the Code. Through their adoption, they are setting an example of fostering an ethical culture within their municipalities and across local government:
- AbaQulusi | KwaZulu-Natal
- Amajuba | KwaZulu-Natal
- Beaufort West | Western Cape
- Bergrivier | Western Cape
- Blouberg | Limpopo
- Cape Agulhas | Western Cape
- Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality | Western Cape
- Cape Winelands | Western Cape
- Capricorn | Limpopo
- Chief Albert Luthuli | Mpumalanga
- Collins Chabane | Limpopo
- Dr NDZ | KwaZulu-Natal
- Emadlangeni | KwaZulu-Natal
- Ephraim Mogale | Limpopo
- Garden Route | Western Cape
- Greater Letaba | Limpopo
- Greater Tzaneen
- Harry Gwala | KwaZulu-Natal
- Hessequa | Western Cape
- iLembe | KwaZulu-Natal
- Impendle | KwaZulu-Natal
- Laingsberg | Western Cape
- Langeberg | Western Cape
- Lepelle-Nkumpi | Limpopo
- Makhado | Limpopo
- Mandeni | KwaZulu-Natal
- Maphumulo | KwaZulu-Natal
- Maruleng | Limpopo
- Mbhashe | Eastern Cape
- Moretele | North West
- Mopani | Limpopo
- Mossel Bay | Western Cape
- Musina | Limpopo
- Newcastle | KwaZulu-Natal
- Okhahlamba | KwaZulu-Natal
- Overstrand | Western Cape
- Richmond | KwaZulu-Natal
- Swartland | Western Cape
- Swellendam | Western Cape
- Theewaterskloof | Western Cape
- Thulamela | Limpopo
- Ubuhlebezwe | KwaZulu-Natal
- uMhlabuyalingana | KwaZulu-Natal
- uMhlathuze | KwaZulu-Natal
- uMngeni | KwaZulu-Natal
- uMngungundlovu | KwaZulu-Natal
- Umzimkhulu | KwaZulu-Natal
- uMzinyathi | KwaZulu-Natal
- uThukela | KwaZulu-Natal
- Vhembe | Limpopo
- Zululand | KwaZulu-Natal
The Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative (LGELI) is a collaborative multi-year project involving The Ethics Institute, the National Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM).
What are LGELI's Objectives?
LGELI aims to foster a nationwide conversation on ethical leadership within local government, ultimately leading to the formulation of a Code for Ethical Governance in South African Local Government. This initiative aligns with the 2016 Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy (LGACS), which commits to facilitating a national dialogue on governance and ethical leadership in municipalities. The LGACS seeks to create a widely consulted document that not only articulates abstract values but also outlines practical ways to implement good governance and ethical leadership. This document, envisioned in the LGACS, now takes the form of the “Code for Ethical Governance for Local Government in South Africa” (the Code).
Code for ethical leadership in local government
Through a three-year process of dialogue and research, the LGELI project developed the Code for Ethical Leadership in Local Government.
The Code was officially launched on 1 March 2024.
Please download a copy of the Code. There is the complete version, as well as a short (4-page) summary version.
Making the code ‘real’
The Code is voluntary in that it requires a personal moral commitment. Nonetheless, municipalities can promote the institutionalisation of the Code by:
- Adopting the Code in a council resolution
- Discussing the content of the Code in meetings
- Training for municipal leadersÂ
- Please contact us about training opportunities – lgeli@tei.org.zaÂ
Leading the Way in Ethical Governance
The following municipalities have taken a significant step in ethical governance by adopting the Code for Ethical Governance for Local Government in South Africa. Through their adoption, they are setting an example of fostering an ethical culture within their municipalities and across local government:
- Bergrivier Municipality
- Swartland District Municipality
- Langeberg Municipality
- Cape Winelands District Municipality
- Hessequa Municipality
- Theewaterskloof Municipality
- Mossel Bay Municipality
