Metsimaholo Local Municipality from Sasolburg in the Free State got recognized for excellence in communication at the 9th South African Local Government Association (SALGA) National Communicators Forum (NCF) Awards, held in Cape Town from 25–27 February 2026.
Metsimaholo emerged as a top performer and won the prestigious Most Proactive and Responsive Team (Local) award for its outstanding communication efforts to affirm their commitment to transparency and ethical public communication.
Speaking to City Report, Communication Manager, Dr Gino Alberts acknowledged that residents are one of the most important stakeholders when it comes to the municipality’s communication strategy.
“As a municipality, we firmly believe that residents have the right to know what is happening in their municipality. They are not bystanders; they are stakeholders. They contribute through rates and service payments, and they deserve timely, accurate and accessible information about service delivery, governance matters and development initiatives.
“Transparent communication strengthens trust, builds public confidence and enhances participatory democracy,” said Dr Alberts.
Commenting on the received award, Dr Alberts emphasised that credibility should not be appreciated only when things are going well in the municipality, but it should be cherished even when the same institutions are going through difficult times.
“For us, this award is more than a trophy; it is an affirmation of our commitment to transparency, accountability and ethical public communication,” Alberts said.
He indicated that this is the first time that the municipality entered the SALGA National Communicators Awards and the experience of receiving the award is both humbling and inspiring.
“We do not take this recognition lightly. It reflects the long hours, strategic planning and unwavering dedication of a team that understands that communication is not an afterthought, it is a constitutional responsibility.
“This recognition strengthens our resolve. It challenges us to raise the bar even higher. We remain committed to improving our communication platforms, expanding community engagement, and ensuring that no residents feel excluded from the flow of municipal information,” said Dr Alberts.
The municipal Executive Mayor, Councillor Jack Malindi and Municipal Manger, Basi Motloung congratulated the Communications Team, commending their professionalism and dedication.
Meanwhile, Kouga Local Municipality walked away with the Crisis Communication Excellence Award for its outstanding communication efforts during the devastating fires that occurred in the region in January 2026.
The forum, attended by communicators from all 257 municipalities, aimed to strengthen local government communication, promote transparency, and combat misinformation. The 2026 event was themed around “reclaiming trust, credibility, and citizen connection”.
City of Johannesburg (Metro) emerged as a top performer, winning awards for Most Profiled Municipality and Most Innovative Municipality. These awards recognized the city’s use of podcasts, digital listening, and, particularly, communication regarding the Inner City Rejuvenation and Service Delivery War Room.
