Swartland Municipality has been named the best-performing local municipality in South Africa for the second consecutive year, according to the 2026 Municipal Performance Awards presented on 1 October 2026 at the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Annual Convention in Sun City. The award was announced by Ratings Afrika, which partnered with SAPOA and the Banking Association of South Africa for the event.
The accolade is based on the Ratings Afrika Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI), a scorecard that rates municipalities on operating performance, liquidity management, debt governance, budget position, affordability and infrastructure development. Swartland improved its MFSI score from 77 out of 100 in the previous assessment to 80 out of 100 for the 2025/2026 financial year, placing it at the top of the index among the municipalities that were assessed.
For local businesses, the significance lies in the link between municipal performance and the operating environment. A higher MFSI score signals more reliable service delivery, better infrastructure maintenance and a greater likelihood of stable rates and taxes. In a country where many municipalities struggle with service backlogs, load-shedding and fiscal stress, Swartland’s record offers SMEs a more predictable setting for investment, expansion and day-to-day operations.
The award programme, launched in 2025, aims to highlight the role of good governance in local economic development. SAPOA celebrated its 60th anniversary at the same event, under the theme “Elevating Property. Elevating South Africa. 60 Years & Beyond.” The partnership with Ratings Afrika and BASA is aimed at recognising municipalities that combine financial discipline with effective service delivery.
Earlier this year, the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Local Government Report Card also gave Swartland a score of 90 out of 100, ranking it first among the local governments surveyed. The foundation’s report praised the municipality’s administrative stability and a council that can make decisions without being paralysed by political disputes, while also noting areas where further improvement is needed.
Swartland Municipal Manager Joggie Scholtz welcomed the independent assessments, saying, “We value these independent assessments because they demonstrate that it is possible to manage an effective local government with limited resources in South Africa. They also provide an objective view of the areas in which Swartland is performing well and those in which we must continue to improve, particularly as external pressures increasingly affect the day-to-day functioning of municipalities.”
While Swartland’s performance sets a benchmark, the municipality acknowledges that challenges remain. Continued focus on financial prudence, infrastructure investment and responsive governance will be essential to maintain its lead and to support the businesses and residents that rely on municipal services.
Read more about municipal governance and its impact on the business climate in our Regulatory & Policy coverage.
Ratings Afrika highlighted “exceptional leadership, sound governance and a strong commitment to delivering meaningful results for its community” when announcing the award. The organisation added that Swartland “consistently demonstrated what can be achieved when performance, accountability and excellence are placed at the heart of local government”. That language points to governance culture mattering alongside the numeric score, signalling to other councils that qualitative assessments accompany the quantitative MFSI metrics in the final judgement.
