Fundi recently partnered with IMPSA at the 2025 Local Government Indaba in Midrand, joining forces with national leaders working to rebuild trust in municipal governance and improve service delivery across the country.
Held at Gallagher Convention Centre, the event brought together over 1 500 delegates from government, traditional leadership, business, academia and civil society. Fundi was one of four strategic partners supporting the gathering, which focused on tackling the challenges facing South Africa’s 247 municipalities.
“Local government is where the rubber meets the road for service delivery,” says Mary Maponya, Fundi Executive Head: Lending. “When municipalities struggle with financial problems, political instability, infrastructure and service challenges, South Africans feel the impact directly. We’re here because we want to be part of fixing this – especially when it comes to the financial systems and governance structures that help municipalities serve their communities.”
Maponya notes that the Indaba was all about driving real change. Minister Velenkhosi Hlabisa delivered President Cyril Ramaphosa’s keynote address at the Gala Dinner, calling for everyone to work together to tackle weak institutions, poor financial management and governance failures.
Panel discussions featuring cabinet ministers, traditional leaders, MECs, mayors and experts explored how to build ethical leadership, strengthen oversight and professionalise local government operations.
One of the event’s highlights was the Local Government Good Governance Awards, which recognised municipalities doing things right. “These success stories show what’s possible when you get leadership, systems and accountability working together,” shares Maponya. “They’re proof that change can happen – giving other municipalities a roadmap to follow. Our goal in being part of this event was to showcase how Fundi’s financial solutions and digital tools can support municipalities as they transform.
“You can’t transform local government in a vacuum,” she adds. “It takes government, business, civil society and specialised partners all working together. We’re committed to being one of these reliable partners.”
Fundi’s involvement comes at a critical time. Its full service offering of digital payment platforms, financial solutions and administrative expertise supports public servants to develop themselves and build careers of service. “We’ve seen how this can help individuals in municipalities improve governance and delivery within their departments.”
With municipalities under enormous pressure and South Africans demanding better, the conversations at the Indaba made one thing crystal clear: “There’s real political will for reform, from the President’s office right down to municipal level,” says Maponya. “Because local government touches people’s daily lives more than any other level of governance, getting this right matters for economic development, social cohesion and democracy itself.
“This Indaba was an important moment – a chance to face the reality and recommit to doing better,” she concludes. “We’re proud to have been there, and we’re looking forward to playing our part in building stronger local governance and better outcomes for communities across South Africa.”