President Ramaphosa recognises TUT Dean for Research Behind Revised White Paper on Local Government

Prof Mashupye Herbert Maserumule, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), has been recognised by President Cyril Ramaphosa for his research contribution to the review of the White Paper on Local Government.

The recognition coincides with a major milestone in South Africa’s local government reform process. On 22 October 2026, President Ramaphosa officially launched the Cabinet-approved Revised White Paper on Local Government (WPLG) 2026 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni. Held under the theme “Every Municipality Must Work: From Policy to Collective Action,” the launch signals a decisive shift toward addressing persistent failures in municipal governance, financial management, institutional capacity and service delivery.

The Revised White Paper draws on the outcomes of the 2022 Presidential Local Government Summit, broad stakeholder consultations and specialised research. It is supported by a Research Compendium that consolidates the evidence base for the policy review. Central to the new framework is a differentiated approach that recognises the varying capacities and challenges of metropolitan, secondary-city, rural and small-town municipalities. The document sets out a path for legislative, institutional and financial reforms aimed at building capable, accountable and developmental local government.

Prof Maserumule is a respected scholar in public affairs and public administration. As Executive Dean of TUT’s Faculty of Humanities, he has consistently contributed to national conversations on state capability, ethical governance and the performance of local government. His research and academic leadership have directly informed the policy questions at the heart of the White Paper review.

The President’s recognition affirms the value of rigorous, evidence - based academic input in shaping national policy.

Reflecting on the honour, Prof Maserumule said: “I am deeply humbled by this recognition from the President. The review of the White Paper on Local Government represents a critical opportunity to reset the system so that it better serves the people of South Africa. Research must not remain in the academy - it must speak to the real challenges facing our municipalities and help chart a practical path toward capable, ethical and developmental local government. This acknowledgement is not just personal; it affirms the vital role that universities and scholars must continue to play in strengthening our democracy.”

In his keynote address, President Ramaphosa described the Revised White Paper as a “bold reset” of the local government system nearly three decades after the original 1998 White Paper. He stressed the urgency of confronting structural weaknesses, overlapping mandates, unsustainable municipal finances, corruption and weak administrative capacity so that municipalities can reliably serve the communities they are meant to support.

The acknowledgement of Prof Maserumule’s contribution highlights the critical role of universities and scholars in evidence-informed policy development. It also reflects the collaborative partnership between government, academia and other stakeholders that underpinned the review process.