South African local government managers presently face a formidable range of challenges. Over and above the management of the local government institutional transformation processes and associated issues, an equally important management challenge looms, namely the brownfields phenomena. The problem of brownfields impacts widely within South African municipal boundaries. Brownfields are defined as follows : "Abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination". A question that confronts local communities in the 21st century is how to provide needed economic opportunities while, at the same time, avoiding the environmental degradation and social inequity that often accompany past models of development. This question is relevant in all spheres of government but particularly imminent for local government. Relations