Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative

Download Code

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.

Complete English Version
English Summary
IsiZulu Summary

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 leaders 
  • Please contact us about training opportunities – lgeli@tei.org.za 

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.

Download Discussion Document

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 103 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:

    1. AbaQulusi | KwaZulu-Natal
    2. Amajuba | KwaZulu-Natal
    3. Ba-Phalaborwa | Limpopo
    4. Beaufort West | Western Cape
    5. Bela-Bela | Limpopo
    6. Bergrivier | Western Cape
    7. Big 5 Hlabisa | KwaZulu-Natal
    8. Blouberg | Limpopo
    9. Cape Agulhas | Western Cape
    10. Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality | Western Cape
    11. Cape Winelands | Western Cape
    12. Capricorn | Limpopo
    13. Chief Albert Luthuli | Mpumalanga
    14. City of Matlosana | North West
    15. Collins Chabane | Limpopo
    16. Dannhauser | KwaZulu-Natal
    17. Dr JS Moroka | Mpumalanga
    18. Dr Kenneth Kaunda | North West
    19. Dr NDZ | KwaZulu-Natal
    20. eDumbe | KwaZulu-Natal
    21. Ehlanzeni | Mpumalanga
    22. Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality | Gauteng
    23. Elias Motsoaledi | Limpopo
    24. Emadlangeni | KwaZulu-Natal
    25. Emakhazeni | Mpumalanga
    26. Emalahleni | Mpumalanga
    27. Ephraim Mogale | Limpopo
    28. Fetakgomo Tubatse | Limpopo
    29. Fezile Dabi | Free State
    30. Garden Route | Western Cape
    31. Greater Giyani | Limpopo
    32. Greater Kokstad | KwaZulu-Natal
    33. Greater Letaba | Limpopo
    34. Greater Tzaneen | Limpopo
    35. Hantam | Northern Cape
    36. Harry Gwala | KwaZulu-Natal
    37. Hessequa | Western Cape
    38. iLembe | KwaZulu-Natal
    39. Impendle | KwaZulu-Natal
    40. JB Marks | North West
    41. Johannes Phumlani Phungula | KwaZulu-Natal
    42. KSD | Eastern Cape
    43. Laingsberg | Western Cape
    44. Langeberg | Western Cape
    45. Lepelle-Nkumpi | Limpopo
    46. Lephalale | Limpopo
    47. Mafube | Free State
    48. Makhado | Limpopo
    49. Makhuduthamaga | Limpopo
    50. Mandeni | KwaZulu-Natal
    51. Maphumulo | KwaZulu-Natal
    52. Maruleng | Limpopo
  1. Mbhashe | Eastern Cape
  2. Merafong | Gauteng
  3. Midvaal | Gauteng
  4. Modimolle-Mokgopong | Limpopo
  5. Mogalakwena | Limpopo
  6. Molemole | Limpopo
  7. Mopani | Limpopo
  8. Moretele | North West
  9. Moses Kotane | North West
  10. Mossel Bay | Western Cape
  11. Msunduzi | KwaZulu-Natal
  12. Mthonjaneni | KwaZulu-Natal
  13. Musina | Limpopo
  14. Ndwedwe | KwaZulu-Natal
  15. Newcastle | KwaZulu-Natal
  16. Nkandla | KwaZulu-Natal
  17. Nkangala | Mpumalanga
  18. Nquthu | KwaZulu-Natal
  19. Okhahlamba | KwaZulu-Natal
  20. Overstrand | Western Cape
  21. Pixley Ka Seme | Northern Cape
  22. Polokwane | Limpopo
  23. Ramotshere Moiloa | North West
  24. Ray Nkonyeni | KwaZulu-Natal
  25. Richmond | KwaZulu-Natal
  26. Saldanha Bay | Western Cape
  27. Sedibeng | Gauteng
  28. Sekhukhune | Limpopo
  29. Stellenbosch | Western Cape
  30. Swartland | Western Cape
  31. Swellendam | Western Cape
  32. Thabazimbi | Limpopo
  33. Theewaterskloof | Western Cape
  34. Thulamela | Limpopo
  35. Ubuhlebezwe | KwaZulu-Natal
  36. Ugu | KwaZulu-Natal
  37. uMfolozi | KwaZulu-Natal
  38. uMhlabuyalingana | KwaZulu-Natal
  39. uMhlathuze | KwaZulu-Natal
  40. uMngeni | KwaZulu-Natal
  41. uMngungundlovu | KwaZulu-Natal
  42. Umsinga | KwaZulu-Natal
  43. Umzimkhulu | KwaZulu-Natal
  44. uMzinyathi | KwaZulu-Natal
  45. uPhongolo | KwaZulu-Natal
  46. uThukela | KwaZulu-Natal
  47. Vhembe | Limpopo
  48. Victor Khanye | Mpumalanga
  49. Waterberg | Limpopo
  50. West Coast | Western Cape
  51. Zululand | KwaZulu-Natal
Download
Download

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 leaders 
  • Please contact us about training opportunities – lgeli@tei.org.za 

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
Loading...