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.
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:
- Beaufort West Local Municipality | Western Cape
- Bergrivier Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Blouberg Local Municipality | Limpopo
- Cape Agulhas Local Municipality | Western Cape
- Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Cape Winelands District Municipality | Western Cape
- Capricorn District Municipality | Limpopo
- Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality | Mpumalanga
- Collins Chabane Local Municipality | LimpopoÂ
- Dr NDZ Local Municipality | KwaZulu-NatalÂ
- Garden Route District Municipality | Western Cape
- Greater Letaba Local Municipality | LimpopoÂ
- Harry Gwala DM | KwaZulu-NatalÂ
- Hessequa Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Lainsberg Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Langeberg Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality | Limpopo
- Maruleng Local Municipality | Limpopo
- Mossel Bay Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Overstrand Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Richmond Local Municipality | KwaZulu-NatalÂ
- Swartland Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Swellendam Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Theewaterskloof Local Municipality | Western CapeÂ
- Thulamela Local Municipality | Limpopo
- Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality | KwaZulu-NatalÂ
- Vhembe District Municipality | Limpopo
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