SWARTLAND TOPS RATINGS AFRIKA INDEX AS BEST MUNICIPALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Release: Immediate – 3 October 2025
Swartland Municipality
 
SWARTLAND TOPS RATINGS AFRIKA INDEX AS BEST MUNICIPALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
 
At yesterday’s Municipal Performance Awards, hosted by SAPOA (the South African Property Owners Association), Ratings Afrika and BASA (the Banking Association of South Africa), Swartland was once again recognised as the top-performing municipality in South Africa, alongside Saldanha Bay Municipality.
This recognition is significant because it is based on research conducted by independent experts outside of the government and political sphere. The award is derived from Ratings Afrika’s Municipal Financial Sustainability Index.

The index benchmarks municipal fiscal health using six key financial components to assess stability, sustainability and resilience. These include:

• A comprehensive measure of fiscal health, assessing a municipality’s ability to generate an operating surplus to fund services
• Maintaining cash reserves to absorb shocks
• Practising prudent borrowing and repayment
• Applying disciplined and forward-looking budgeting
• Maintaining affordable rates and tariffs
• Investing in infrastructure to strengthen long-term, sustainable service delivery

 
Swartland Municipality has moved up in the rankings from last year. In 2024, the municipality scored 71 out of 100 points. This year, Swartland improved to 74 out of 100, fulfilling the commitment made by Executive Mayor Harold Cleophas that the municipality would continue to improve its score and ranking.
At a time when headlines in South Africa continue to highlight the fiscal collapse of many local governments, Swartland and a handful of other municipalities are refusing 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.

“We are not perfect, and we do not claim to be. However, this confirms that we are doing the right things, getting the basics right, and laying a firm foundation,” says Municipal Manager, Joggie Scholtz.

“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 council and the 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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