SWARTLAND RECOGNISED AS BEST-PERFORMING MUNICIPALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
At yesterday’s (1 October 2026) Municipal Performance Awards, hosted by SAPOA (the South African Property Owners Association), Ratings Afrika and BASA (the Banking Association of South Africa), Swartland was named South Africa’s best-performing municipality. This is the second year in a row that Swartland has been named the best-performing municipality in South Africa at the Municipal Performance Awards.
The Municipal Performance Awards aim to honour and recognise municipalities that enable investment and development, encourage improved service delivery in all areas, including planning, promote collaboration between municipalities and the property sector, and celebrate municipalities that contribute to economic growth and sustainable development.
These are all important goals for Swartland Municipality, as they are at the centre of our efforts to create a space where all residents have access to employment opportunities and where sustainable, positive economic growth can help eradicate social challenges.
The awards also draw on research conducted by Ratings Afrika, an independent governance ratings agency. Swartland Municipality has moved up in the Ratings Afrika rankings and is now rated as the most financially sustainable municipality in South Africa, achieving a sustainability score of 80 out of 100 for 2025. This is the highest score in South Africa.
Swartland Municipality is one of only a handful of local governments in South Africa that refuses to yield to the pressures of poor governance. Strict and disciplined financial management is the cornerstone of this achievement, enabling responsible municipalities like Swartland to do more with less.
“This achievement is a team effort, driven by every dedicated official in our municipality who works under tremendous pressure to deliver quality services to our residents despite immense economic challenges. It acknowledges the diligent work of the council and the leadership partnership that arises when all stakeholders in government work together. It is also a testament to the trust our residents place in what we do,” says Executive Mayor Harold Cleophas.
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