Velenkosini Hlabisa Defends District Model as Key to Fixing Service Delivery

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has reaffirmed the District Development Model (DDM) as a cornerstone of South Africa's strategy to fix fragmented service delivery and accelerate infrastructure development across municipalities.

The Minister said the model is designed to bridge the long-standing gap between planning and implementation, ensuring all spheres of government work in a coordinated manner across the country's 44 districts and eight metropolitan municipalities.

A Unified Framework to End Fragmentation

At the heart of the DDM is the concept of a "One Plan" for each district—an integrated development blueprint that aligns national, provincial, and municipal priorities.

"The DDM acts as the primary operational framework to bridge the gap between planning and service delivery," Hlabisa said.

Unlike previous approaches where departments often worked independently, the model aims to:

• Align budgets and infrastructure investment across government

• Integrate spatial and development planning

• Eliminate duplication and competition for resources

• Create shared accountability for delivery outcomes

Municipal Powers Remain Intact

Addressing concerns about overreach, Hlabisa stressed that the DDM does not replace municipal authority.

"Municipalities retain their constitutional powers to plan and govern. The DDM simply aligns different spheres of government around shared priorities," he said.

The framework is grounded in Chapter 3 of the Constitution, which requires cooperative governance and coordination between national, provincial, and local government.

Breaking the "Silo" Culture in Government

Hlabisa acknowledged that poor coordination has historically undermined service delivery, with departments and institutions often "operating in silos."

Since its introduction in 2019, the DDM has been positioned as a "game changer", shifting focus toward integrated planning, budgeting, and execution.

"With this level of coordination, the DDM contributes to building a capable and ethical developmental state," he said.

Driving Equity Across Regions

A key objective of the DDM is to address uneven development between urban and rural municipalities.

While metros typically benefit from stronger revenue bases and planning capacity, many rural municipalities face:

• Limited technical expertise

• Weak infrastructure planning systems

• Poor coordination with national departments

The DDM enables targeted support by allowing national and provincial governments to channel resources strategically into weaker districts, improving spatial and economic equity.

Legal Debate and Regulatory Reforms

The model has faced criticism, with some stakeholders questioning the constitutionality of the 2024 DDM regulations.

However, Hlabisa said legal opinions obtained by the department affirm that the framework is consistent with constitutional principles.

He noted that concerns raised—particularly by the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town—focused largely on implementation clarity, not the model's intent.

To address this, proposed amendments to the regulations—currently open for public comment—aim to:

• Clarify roles and responsibilities across government spheres

• Define the relationship between "One Plans" and existing planning laws

• Strengthen institutional coordination mechanisms

These changes align with key legislation, including:

• Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA)

• Municipal Systems Act (2000)

Aligning with National Priorities

All districts and metros are now being aligned with major national priorities, including:

• Economic growth and job creation

• Housing delivery

• Transport and infrastructure systems

• Climate resilience and sustainability

Hlabisa emphasised that these goals cannot be achieved in isolation.

"Coordinated action across all spheres of government is essential—and that is precisely what the DDM seeks to achieve," he said.

A Call for Whole-of-Government Approach

Looking ahead, the Minister called for broader institutional and societal support to fully embed the model nationwide.

The DDM is closely aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP) and is seen as a practical mechanism to improve governance outcomes and service delivery performance.

"It is only through this coordinated approach that we will be able to turn things around—together," Hlabisa said.