Western Cape recognises municipal excellence at 10th Annual Revenue Management Masterclass
The Western Cape Provincial Treasury, in collaboration with CIGFARO, hosted the 10th Annual Revenue Management Masterclass (RMMC) on 29 and 30 October 2026 in Langebaan, bringing together municipal leaders and finance practitioners to strengthen municipal financial sustainability.
A key highlight of this year’s Masterclass was the inaugural RMMC Awards ceremony held on 29 October, recognising achievements, innovation and contributions to municipal revenue management. A total of 11 awards were presented to the following recipients:
Revenue Collection Excellence Award
• City of Cape Town
• Overstrand Municipality
Revenue Collection Improvement Award
• Cederberg Municipality
Revenue Collection Improvement Award – Municipalities Under Debt Relief
• Cederberg Municipality
Innovation Awards
• Alternative Revenue Opportunities: City of Cape Town Municipality
• Metering: Matzikama Municipality
• Debt Collection and Credit Control Measures: Drakenstein Municipality
RMMC Legacy and Contribution Awards
• City of Cape Town Municipality
• Drakenstein Municipality
• Saldanha Bay Municipality
Revenue Improvement Award – District Municipalities
• Overberg District Municipality
Speaking at the event, Western Cape Minister of Finance Deidré Baartman highlighted encouraging preliminary results for the 2025/26 municipal financial year.
“Fifteen out of our twenty-five municipalities achieved collection rates above 90%, with several municipalities exceeding 98% and even 99%,” said Minister Baartman.
She noted that 21 municipalities recorded operating surpluses, while municipal capital expenditure increased from R9.74 billion in 2022/23 to R16.91 billion in 2025/26. Capital budget implementation reached 87.7%, its highest level to date.
“These figures demonstrate why sound municipal finances matter so much. It translates directly into tangible deliverables for the people of the Western Cape,” the Minister said.
Contributions from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) highlighted revenue risks, including difficulties recovering historical debt following property transfers, fraudulent clearance certificates and billing errors. Rural municipalities also face challenges relating to unreliable data and limited enforcement tools.
Review conclusions emphasised the need for clearer legislative guidance, a balance between revenue protection and constitutional property rights, and stronger systems, data quality and standardised processes.
The Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning’s Growth Potential Study provided an evidence base for understanding economic opportunities and constraints across municipalities and their settlements. Its findings can inform investment planning by considering infrastructure, economic activity, human capital, institutional capacity and environmental factors.
Aligning municipal revenue strategies with local growth opportunities can help municipalities prioritise infrastructure investment, expand their revenue base and strengthen financial resilience.
The Masterclass reaffirmed Western Cape Provincial Treasury’s commitment to supporting municipalities in protecting revenue, improving financial management and sustaining essential services for residents.
Media enquiries:
Thabiso Molefe
Head of Communication
Western Cape Provincial Treasury
Phone: +27(0)21 483 4237