On Friday evening, 12 September 2025, Swartland Municipality was once again recognised as a stellar example of service excellence in the Western Cape at the Western Cape Government’s annual Service Excellence Awards.
Of the eight projects entered, four were shortlisted, the most of any municipality in attendance.
Our SMME Development Programme achieved bronze in the Best Municipal Project category. This initiative has been a trailblazing success for the municipality, focusing on creating sustainable support and growth opportunities for small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs).
Over the past three years, Swartland Municipality has worked tirelessly to establish both a community and a support network for SMMEs. In the past year alone, 160 participants benefited from six SMME training sessions, while 25 business registrations were referred to SEDA for further assistance.
In addition, the Municipality has created a comprehensive database of 172 SMMEs, making it easier for businesses to access resources and support. In 2024, Darling became the third town to benefit from an economic business hub, following Riebeek Valley and Malmesbury. These hubs provide carefully selected entrepreneurs with their first formal business space from which to launch and grow. They are closely monitored to track challenges, successes, and long-term sustainability.
Our Youth Office also supported the launch of school-based career clubs, engaging learners on the importance of entrepreneurship, local economic development, and available SMME support opportunities. These engagements align with the G4U Jobs platform, which highlights pathways to sustainable employment and economic participation.
These initiatives demonstrate Swartland Municipality’s continued commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, expanding access to business development resources, and promoting inclusive local economic growth.
Swartland Municipality was further honoured with silver in the Best Municipality in the Western Cape category. We remain one of the top-performing municipalities in both the Western Cape and South Africa, and we are deeply grateful for this recognition from the Western Cape Government.
Our multiple nominations and awards at the Service Excellence Awards underscore Swartland’s unwavering dedication to its core mandate: delivering quality services to our residents and communities. These accolades are not only a recognition of what we have achieved but also set the benchmark that we want to improve on and exceed. Swartland Municipality will continue represent a model of best practice for the Western Cape and South Africa.
15 September 2025
Issued by: Swartland Municipality
Release: Immediate
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