Bulletin Archives

Richardson v South Peninsula Municipality

Can a section 79 committee take the place of a section 80 committee?

The White Paper on Local Government identified performance management as one of local government's tools for the implementation of its development mandate in terms of the Constitution.

This article is an abbreviated version of a comprehensive guide called, Preparing for Integrated Development Planning.

The administrative head of the municipality is not escaping the current wave of transformation, restructuring and renaming of local government structures.

On 20 February 2001, the Acting President issued the proclamation in terms of section 124 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, determining its coming into operation. On 1 March 2001 chapters 1 to 4 and 7 to 12 came into operation.

This is a report from the Municipal Demarcation Board and the Department of Provincial and Local Government on the process of division of functions between district and local municipalities

On 12 March 2001, the South African Local Government Association conducted a workshop to deal with the role and function of the speakers.

Grootboom v OOstenberg Municipality

This article is based on a discussion document prepared for SALGA by the Local Government Project of the Community Law Centre.

One of the objects of local government in terms of section 152 (1) (e) of the Constitution is to encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in local government. Chapter 4 of the Municipal Systems Act deals with community participation.

The establishment of new municipalities is on our doorstep and it is crucial that certain financial and other related issues be addressed as a matter of extreme of urgency.

The final stage of local government transformation commences formally with the holding of the first meeting of the newly elected councils.

This is an edited version of a framework document, dated 11 October 2000 and prepared jointly by the Municipal Demarcation Board and the Department of Provincial and Local Government.

The Structures Amendment Act 33 has of 2000 allocated functions that were traditionally local municipalities functions to district municipalities.

The municipal elections on 5 December will allow us to begin to set in place a new, democratic, non-racial municipal order.

On 26 July 2000, Minister Mufamadi established a Special Task Team for the Establishment of Municipalities (STT) to assist provinces in dealing with problem areas pertaining to the establishment process.

The position of traditional leaders in local government was the last hurdle that had to be crossed before the election date could be announced by the Minister of Provincial and Local Government.

On 21 September 2000 the National Assembly approved important amendments to the Municipal Structures Act. The National Council of Provinces Approved the bill on 3 October. It is expected that the Local Government Structures Amendment Bill B51B-2000 will become law by middle-October.

District municipalities, having shared authority with local municipalities will be a significant innovation brought by the final phase of local government transformation. It is therefore important to clearly define the role and function of 47 district municipalities that will be established on election day in November.

A district municipality covers the same area as the local municipalities within its district. In other words, a number of local municipalities together make up a district municipality.

The Constitution requires from provinces to monitor, support and, if necessary intervene in a municipality. The new local government dispensation, establishing metropolitan, district and local municipalities, will impact on the way provinces execute their constitutional obligations of monitoring and support. This article examines how provinces should respond to those challenges.

The SALGA Elections Strategy comprises two main focus areas. Part one of the strategy relates to the Record of Understanding that SALGA entered into with the IEC. Part two represents SALGA specific issues regarding the elections and the period immediately after elections.

The Board will continue to consider boundary changes but for purposes of the elections the Board is only considering submissions which should clearly be made now.

As from the day of the forthcoming local government elections, local government's legislative and executive powers are going to be squarely based on the Constitution.