BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//National Business Initiative - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.nbi.org.za X-WR-CALDESC:Events for National Business Initiative REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Africa/Johannesburg BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:SAST DTSTART:20240101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250730T083000 DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250730T153000 DTSTAMP:20260430T040124 CREATED:20250728T134522Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250728T140724Z UID:24712-1753864200-1753889400@www.nbi.org.za SUMMARY:Roundtable Discussion Collective Action for Local Government Reform Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government DESCRIPTION:Dear Valued Stakeholder\, \nYou are invited to a pivotal Roundtable Discussion on the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government\, hosted by the National Business Initiative (NBI) in collaboration with the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG). \nThe Roundtable is supported by Border-Kei Chamber of Business and Absa Group Limited. \nDCoG gazetted a Discussion Document for public comment on 10 April 2025\, setting out some questions for final comments by 31 July 2025. \nThe recommendations from the roundtable discussion will directly inform the revised White Paper to be published in March 2026. This event provides an opportunity to share your insights on governance\, finance\, infrastructure and economic development could redefine how municipalities serve communities for decades. \n  \nEvent Highlights \nKeynote Address: Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa\, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs \n  \nBreakaway Discussions on: \n• Governance and Finance (Ethics\, capacity\, political-administrative interface\, funding models\, revenue management)\n• Infrastructure\, LED and Spatial Planning (Private sector partnerships\, service delivery\, regional growth\, inequality\, business engagement) \nThe roundtable discussion is an opportunity to contribute to a transformative policy reform process aimed at building an efficient and accountable local government system for South Africa. The success of South Africa’s municipalities depends on our collective action. \nRSVP\nKindly respond by Friday\, 25 July 2025. \nConcept Note and Programme \n  \nThis Discussion Document is a step in the process of reviewing the1998 White Paper\, which is part of a process of local government reform and restructuring over the short medium and long term. The intention is to publish a revised Local Government White Paper in March 2026\, following an extensive and inclusive process of consultation based on the Discussion Document. The launch marked the beginning of an all-inclusive and participatory policy reform process to design a modern as well as fit-for-purpose local government system. \nThe review is an open call to action for communities and stakeholders\, including business to collectively build a new and ideal system of local government characterised by responsiveness\, efficiency and accountability. The responsibility to ensure viable and sustainable municipalities is a shared national duty in the advancement of democracy. \n  \nSupported By: \n \n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Dear Valued Stakeholder\, \nWe are pleased to invite you to join a high-level engagement focused on strengthening the private sector’s collective contribution to addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in South Africa. \n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n About the WE DARE Network \n \n\n\n\n\n \n The WE DARE Network is an international\, multi-stakeholder partnership bringing together researchers\, companies\, NGOs\, policymakers\, and practitioners united in the mission to eradicate GBV. Through collaboration\, digital innovation\, and knowledge sharing\, the Network advances whole of society solutions and supports meaningful partnerships that drive impact. \n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Why This Engagement Matters \n \n\n\n\n\n \n In December 2025\, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared GBVF a national disaster – underscoring the urgency of stronger\, coordinated action. While the private sector has often been perceived as silent\, our research and engagements reveal a different truth: many companies are taking action internally and within the communities they serve. However\, these efforts remain fragmented and largely invisible. \nThe WeDare GBV Repository was launched in September 2025 to contribute to a change in this position. It offers a central platform that captures corporate initiatives\, enables peer learning\, and strengthens accountability. Ultimately it supports Pillars 1 and 6 of the National Strategic Plan on GBV through coordinated knowledge management\, thought leadership and collective action. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n About the Event \n \n\n\n\n\n \n This in-person session will: \n\nHighlight the strategic value of the WeDare Repository for companies committed to tackling GBV.\nFeature a panel of experts presenting evidence-based insights on the scale of GBVF in South Africa and showcasing innovative private-sector responses.\nFacilitate meaningful dialogue on the power of shared learning\, data\, and partnerships in driving collective action.\nReceive a hands-on experience of the We Dare GBVF Repository.\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Growing the WeDare Community: \n \n\n\n\n\n \n A key objective of the session is to broaden corporate participation in the WeDare Community of Practice. Participating organisations will have the opportunity to signal their interest in contributing to the Repository. Companies opting in will receive one-on-one onboarding covering platform access\, UX\, and content guidelines. \nAs more companies come on board\, the WeDare Network will evolve into a robust membership ecosystem of role-players – strengthening collaboration between business\, policymakers\, civil society\, and academia\, and amplifying our collective influence in addressing GBVF. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Event Details: \n \n\n\n\n\n \n This event is by invitation only.Date: Monday\, 04 May 2026Time: 09:00 for 09:30 to 12:30 (SAST) \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n AGENDA URL:https://www.nbi.org.za/event/roundtable-discussion-collective-action-for-local-government-reform-review-of-the-1998-white-paper-on-local-government/ LOCATION:East London International Convention Centre\, 22 Esplanade Street\, Quigney Esplanade\, East London\, South Africa CATEGORIES:Environmental Sustainability ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.nbi.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Collective-Action-for-Local-Government-Reform-Review-of-the-1998-White-Paper-on-Local-Government.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NBI":MAILTO:bhavnad@nbi.org.za END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR