The City of Cape Town has been named the winner in the ‘Employer of Choice for Public Sector Organisations’ at the SALGA 2026 annual Future of HR Awards that was hosted in Fourways, Johannesburg, last week.
The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) conference focused on how human resources leaders can connect talent, technology, ethical leadership, and organisational purpose to strengthen institutional performance.
The City of Cape Town was named the overall winner in the Employer of Choice for Public Sector Organisations on 15 October 2026.
The City was a finalist in all three HR categories at this year’s awards, namely: Best Employer of Choice: Public Sector; Best Learning and Development Strategy; and Best Health and Wellbeing Strategy
‘This is a proud moment for the City, and affirms the efforts the administration is making in attracting talent and creating a conducive environment for development and growth. We are focused on creating a workplace where talent is recognised, nurtured, and encouraged to thrive so that we can make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. To deliver the best services, we must attract the best talent, and this award is a feather in our cap. The recognition celebrates the City’s outstanding achievements in Human Resources, highlighting its leadership, commitment to excellence and the strategic contribution towards organisational performance and employee development,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.
The City’s Best Employer of Choice recognition is particularly significant because it speaks to the broader employee experience and the range of initiatives that contribute to making the City of Cape Town an Employer of Choice. These include the City’s investment in learning and development, employee wellness, career growth, talent development and creating an enabling workplace environment.
The recognition reflects the City’s view that an employer of choice is created through a holistic approach. Learning and development enable employees to build the skills and capabilities required to perform in their current roles while preparing for future organisational needs. Employee wellness supports employees’ wellbeing and resilience, while career and talent development initiatives create opportunities for employees to grow and realise their potential.
‘These elements collectively contribute to a positive employee experience and strengthen the City’s ability to attract, develop, and retain talent. The award reflects the collective efforts of our employees, HR professionals, managers, and stakeholders across the City. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that being an employer of choice requires more than simply attracting talented people. It requires us to create an environment where employees are supported, developed, valued and given opportunities to grow,’ said Alderman Uys.
