Hlabisa unveils R410.9bn COGTA Budget for municipal stability and disaster resilience

By Johnathan Paoli

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has revealed the government’s strategic plans to restore failing municipalities, improve local services, enhance disaster response and deepen the role of traditional leadership in governance.

Delivering his 2025/26 Budget Vote speech to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, Hlabisa thanked stakeholders and called for unity across all spheres of government, formally tabling Budget Vote 3 (CoGTA) and Budget Vote 15 (Traditional Affairs), and emphasising the department’s commitment to responsive, ethical governance and people-centred development.

“With the tools in this budget and the will of our people, we can build resilient municipalities, restore trust, and bring dignity to every South African,” he said.

The minister started his address with a sombre reflection on the devastating floods that recently struck several provinces, with the Eastern Cape suffering the greatest losses; and confirming that disaster relief funding mechanisms have