South Africa has gone into lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. One of the very many concerns surrounding the impact of the lockdown relates to access to food. The rules with respect to supermarkets, and our access to them during the lockdown, are reasonably clear.

The coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, is wreaking havoc across the world and South Africa is no exception. On 15 March, President Cyril Rhamaphosa declared a national state of disaster and announced a raft of measures to contain the spread of the virus.

This article summarises and discusses the COVID-19 Disaster Response Directions targeting provinces, municipalities and traditional leaders. They were adopted on 25 March and amended on 30 March 2020.

When a municipal council delays or fails to implement a financial recovery plan imposed by the province, can the provincial executive dissolve the council? More specifically, should the provincial executive dissolve the municipal council in terms of section 139(1)(c) or section 139(5) of the Constitution?

Matters affecting municipalities have become more and more important to residents. Given the constitutional objective to encourage the involvement of communities and community organizations in matters of local government, how elected councillors are allowed by their respective councils to engage with residents, determines whether residents truly believe that their councillors are genuinely interested in their views.