Coat of Arms image SA Govt Info image
row image www.gov.za what's new links faq's sitemap feedback row image
speeches & statements documents our leaders about government about sa events search
 
Homepage Homepage

About government

>

Programme of Action

>

Government services

>

Government programmes

>

Contact information

>

National Budget

>

Government vacancies

>

National Symbols

>

National Orders

>

Elections

>

Government system

  >

National legislature (Parliament)

  >

Executive Authority (President, Cabinet and Deputy Ministers)

 

>

Justice system

  >

National departments

  >

Traditional leadership

  >

Provincial government

  >

Local government

  >

Co-operative governance

  >

Public Administration

  >

Security services

  >

Finance

  >

Civic services

  >

Government and communication

Categories of municipalities

The Constitution provides for three categories of municipalities.

As directed by the Constitution, the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) [PDF] contains criteria for determining when an area must have a category-A municipality (metropolitan municipalities) and when municipalities fall into categories B (local municipalities) or C (district municipalities).

The Act also determines that category-A municipalities can only be established in metropolitan areas.

Metropolitan councils have single metropolitan budgets, common property ratings and service-tariff systems, and single employer bodies.

South Africa has eight metropolitan municipalities, namely:

Metropolitan councils may decentralise powers and functions. However, all original municipal, legislative and executive powers are vested in the metropolitan council.

In metropolitan areas, there is a choice of two types of executive system: the mayoral executive system where executive authority is vested in the mayor, and the collective executive committee system where these powers are vested in the executive committee.

Non-metropolitan areas consist of district councils and local councils.

District councils are primarily responsible for capacity-building and district-wide planning.

The Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 provides for ward committees whose tasks, among other things, are to:

  • prepare, implement and review integrated development plans
  • establish, implement and review municipalities’ performance-management systems
  • monitor and review municipalities’ performances
  • prepare municipalities’ budgets
  • participate in decisions about the provision of municipal services
  • communicate and disseminate information on governance matters.

By March 2009, there were ward committees in 98% of the country’s municipal wards.

Municipal Demarcation Board

The board is a constitutional institution established by the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, 1998 (Act 27 of 19980 [PDF].

The main function of the board is to determine municipal boundaries in accordance with the Act and other related legislation, and to advise on demarcation matters.

In addition, the board is tasked with delimiting wards into metropolitan and local municipalities.

Source: South Africa Yearbook 2010/11
Editor: D Burger. Government Communication and Information System

[ Top ]

Last modified: 03 June 2011 09:22:49.

 

About the site | Terms & conditions | Contact your government
Developed and maintained by GCIS
The website will resize according to your computer's screen resolution settings, with the smallest screen resolution of 800x600 pixels.