MNS Attorneys Sponsors 5th SALGA National Municipal Legal Practitioners’ Forum
Introduction
Forum Overview: Advancing Legal Excellence in Municipalities
The two-day forum hosted hundreds of municipal legal practitioners, marking another milestone in SALGA’s ongoing drive to strengthen the legal arm of local government. Attendees addressed real-time challenges such as:
Escalating costs of litigation
Non-compliance with constitutional mandates
Legislative reform, and
Gaps in legal capacity across municipalities
In her keynote address, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Hon. Mmamoloko Kubayi, cautioned against unnecessary litigation and urged municipal legal professionals to proactively minimise state legal liabilities.
“South Africa has developed into a litigious society… measures must be implemented to curb unnecessary litigation costs and ballooning contingent liabilities,” she stated
SALGA's Legal Call to Action
Day two of the forum saw powerful calls for municipal legal practitioners to elevate their roles beyond litigation, and to engage proactively in the drafting of by-laws, development of legal policies, and capacity building across municipalities.
According to Cllr. Samkelo Janda, SALGA Chairperson of the Governance and Intergovernmental Relations Working Group:
“Every challenge also presents an opportunity. It is in these moments that legal practitioners must rebuild trust, inspire hope, and galvanise communities into action.”
SALGA CEO Sithole Mbanga echoed this sentiment, announcing a strategic framework to create a “governance engine” centred on:
Leadership development
Service differentiation
Evidence-based governance through data
Panel Discussions: Real Legal Issues, Real Solutions
Throughout the forum, robust panel discussions addressed critical legal themes including:
BB-BEE Sector Code Disparities: Legal practitioners raised concerns about underrepresentation and discriminatory briefing patterns in the private and public sectors.
Public Works Interventions: Efforts to reclaim hijacked government buildings were detailed by the Department of Public Works.
Academic Support: Institutions such as the Dullah Omar Institute and Brigitte Mabandla Justice College showcased postgraduate programmes designed to build long-term municipal legal capacity.
Litigation Updates: Key updates were shared on COS-related court cases involving AfriForum, SALGA, and NERSA regarding electricity tariff legality.
MNS Attorneys: Proud Sponsors and Active Participants
As a trusted name in municipal and public law, MNS Attorneys was honoured to sponsor this influential event. Our participation aligns with our goal to ensure effective, ethical, and legally compliant local governance.
From helping draft municipal policies to representing local government in complex litigation, our attorneys remain at the forefront of municipal legal transformation in South Africa.
Conclusion
The 5th SALGA National Municipal Legal Practitioners’ Forum affirmed the essential role of legal professionals in guiding local governance. MNS Attorneys is proud to contribute to this journey, and to support initiatives that drive service delivery, legal compliance, and governance excellence in municipalities across the country.
For more information about MNS Attorneys’ public and municipal law services, visit www.mnsattorneys.co.za.
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