Will the local government review go far enough?

This article assesses whether South Africa’s proposed local government review goes far enough to address the country’s deep-rooted spatial and economic challenges. From a spatial economy perspective, Yusuf Patel argues that while the review's proposal to move towards single-tier municipalities organised around regional and local economies is a positive step, meaningful progress will require broader institutional and spatial restructuring. The article emphasises that local government reform should extend beyond improving municipal service delivery and governance to addressing the spatial fragmentation, economic exclusion, and inefficiencies inherited from apartheid-era planning. Patel contends that municipalities should be structured around functional economic regions and integrated development patterns to better support economic growth, infrastructure investment, and inclusive development, thereby contributing to more efficient, resilient, and spatially just urban and regional economies.

Abstract based on original source.