Extension of the ban on political party positions to all municipal staff does not survive in Labour Court

The professionalisation of local government has been high on the government’s agenda for over two decades. This is against the background that political interference in municipal decision-making processes destabilises municipalities, and undermines efficient and effective service delivery.

The value of political party constitutions in managing conflict within political parties: Heradien v Meshoa and Others

This article discusses the significance of the Heradien v Meshoa and Others (768/024) [2024] ZAWCHC 37 (13 February 2024) judgment. In this matter, Mr Heradien approached the High Court to, among other things, review and set aside his termination and interdict the IEC from filling the vacancy in the municipal council with Mr Nel as the ICOSA proportional representation (PR) councillor.

Resistance to SPLUMA: The “exclusion” of traditional leaders from the Municipal Planning Tribunal

This article is the third in a series of articles that analyse the five major reasons why traditional leaders rejected the implementation of Spatial Planning and Land Use Management of 2013 (SPLUMA) in their areas of jurisdiction. The previous article unpacked the second reason, namely, the misunderstanding of SPLUMA

Resistance to SPLUMA: Traditional leaders' lack of trust in SPLUMA instruments and processes

The article forms part of a series of articles which examines the five major reasons traditional leaders opposed the implementation of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act of 2013 (SPLUMA) in the areas they govern. The previous article unpacked the third reason, namely, the exclusion of traditional leaders from the Municipal Planning Tribunals (MPTs). This article analyses the fourth reason, namely traditional leaders’ lack of trust in SPLUMA instruments.

Resistance to SPLUMA: Traditional leaders' lack of trust in municipalities

This is the final article of a series of articles which examines the five major reasons why traditional leaders rejected the implementation of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act of 2013 (SPLUMA) in their areas of jurisdiction. The previous article unpacked the fourth reason, namely, traditional leaders’ lack of trust in SPLUMA instruments. This article analyses the fifth reason, namely, traditional leader’s lack of trust in municipalities.

Do municipalities have the exclusive right to administer refuse removal services and to impose relevant fees in their areas?

Time and again, the place and role of local government under the new constitutional dispensation is brought under the microscope. What are municipalities responsible for? What kind of decisions can they make? Can national and provincial governments veto municipal decisions? Can they decide where a metro can exercise a municipal function in its area? These are some of the questions that emerge.

Financial interests of councillors: do municipalities make them public?

Item 8 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors provides that each councillor must, within 60 days of his or her election (or appointment as a local representative to the district council), declare to the municipal manager, in writing, interests and gifts.

The Spanish local government system: A model designed for stability

With the advent of the new democratic system in 1978, after 40 years of authoritarian regime, the concern of decision-makers designing local political institutions was to prevent the local arena from becoming a focus of political destabilisation, as it had been in the pre-dictatorship period.

When the turkey snubs Christmas: The MEC’s power to convene council meetings instead of the speaker

Municipal council meetings are central to local democracy. It is where the municipal executive accounts, municipal policies and by-laws are adopted, and essential governance and administrative business is transacted.

Towards professionalising local government: The Crisis of undue political interference in municipalities

The importance of political parties to representative democracy is well documented. In South Africa’s municipal councils, a majority of councillors serve at the behest of their political parties. Councillors, especially those who serve in the municipal executive, work closely with the municipal manager (MM) who is responsible for ensuring an effective, efficient, and accountable administration.

Court rules on effect of councillor walk-out on district elections

In Electoral Commission of South Africa and Another v Speaker of the uMhlathuze Local Council and Others, the Electoral Court had to deal with what happens when a contingent of councillors refuses to participate in the election of district representatives. The two major questions underlying this judgment are: (1) Must the composition of a local municipality’s delegation to the district reflect the size of the local municipality? Or must it reflect the diversity of parties that voted for the delegation? Or must it reflect both? (2) What are the consequences for the election of district representatives, when a party walks out, and refuses to participate in the election?

The role of municipalities in protecting communities against possible harmful mining

Mining in South Africa often takes place in rural areas, where the main source of the livelihood and subsistence of rural residents is derived from their land and livestock. Mining activities often force people to leave the land they use for subsistence farming and grazing. It results in communities no longer having enough land for farming, therefore severely compromising their ability to make a living.

The misunderstanding of SPLUMA by traditional leaders

This article is the second in a series of articles that unpack the five major reasons why traditional leaders rejected the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management of 2013 (SPLUMA) in their areas of jurisdiction. The previous article analysed the first reason, namely, the lack of meaningful engagement.

Hiding behind a finger: Water contamination by Msukwaligwa Local Municipality

In 2023, the quality of South Africa’s water was put in the spotlight when several cholera outbreaks and deaths were recorded. The outbreaks were initially recorded in Hammanskraal, but later spread across four provinces, including Mpumalanga.

Five time’s a charm? Thubakgale and Others v Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Others

What recourse do citizens have when the State fails to realise the fundamental right of access to housing? Five recent judgments have affirmed the 133 applicants’ right to housing, yet the applicants in the Thubakgale v Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality matter are still without adequate housing. Where and when does the buck stop?

What happens when government fails to listen to rural voices: Constitutional Court declares Traditional and Khoisan Leadership Act unconstitutional

In a victory for rural communities, the Constitutional Court declared the Traditional and Khoisan Leadership Act (TKLA) unconstitutional. The Act came into force shortly before the 2019 national general elections but has now been set aside. The Act regulated aspects of the institution of traditional leadership including the functions of traditional and khoisan leaders, customary law and rural local governance. Why was it declared unconstitutional, and what does this mean going forward?

Knowledge management: the missing link for sustainable local governance

South African organisations face various challenges, one of which is the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment.

Constitutional Court gives AARTO the go-ahead: What does the judgment mean for municipalities?

On 12 July 2023 the Constitutional Court overturned an order of constitutional invalidity made by the Pretoria High Court (High Court), and instead declared the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO) to be consistent with the Constitution. The AARTO will thus regulate the administration, collection and settlement of fines related to road traffic offences, irrespective of whether the offence is committed on a municipal, provincial or national road.

DDM: Beating the silos, or adding bureaucracy?

In his Presidency Budget Speech in 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out that government often operates in silos, and lacks coherence in planning and implementation, and that this makes monitoring and oversight of government action difficult.

Why are traditional leaders rejecting the implementation of SPLUMA?

This article is the first instalment in a series of articles that unpack the five main reasons behind the rejection of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management of 2013 (SPLUMA) by traditional leaders in rural areas.

Local government, crime, by-laws, and law enforcement

This article discusses some of the highlights of the preliminary report on "The state of local government law enforcement” prepared by the Institute for Security Studies for the South African Local Government Association.

Rules for the sometimes unruly

The Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs published a Code of Conduct for Councillors on 14 June 2023 (the new code of conduct). This Code of Conduct was made under section 92 of the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998. The new Code of Conduct acts as a supplement to the one in Schedule 7 of the Municipal Structures Act.

Court prohibits a traditional leader from allocating municipal land

In November 2022, an article which examined the implications of the Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality v The Bakgaga Ba Ga-Mphalele Traditional Authority and Others judgment was published in the Bulletin. In that judgment, the Limpopo High Court ruled that the Bakgaga Traditional Authority may not allocate municipal land and issue PTOs without the approval of the municipality.

Local government waste management and the achievement of Commitment 5 of the Green Economy Accord

The article elucidates how technological, human, economic, and social capacity at the local government level have contributed to achieving Commitment 5 of the Green Economy Accord and provided the best strategies and practices to support waste recycling and reuse in South Africa.

Constitutional Court confirms that municipal by-laws do not need national or provincial approval

The Constitution creates a jurisdictional, functional and institutional space that is reserved only for municipalities. When acting in this space, municipalities are not subservient to national or provincial governments as was the case before the Constitution came into effect.

Deepening democracy through municipal councillor oversight

As a result of the wide-spread and intense criticism directed at local government for failing to deliver on its constitutional mandate, a necessity arise for in-depth study to evaluate the role of municipal councillors in their duty to provide oversight in ensuring policy implementation and accountability. In light of this, the LGSETA commissioned Enterprises UP to conduct research regarding the extent to which municipal councillors succeed in their oversight role.

Democratising local government helps to build and sustain peace

Local governments contribute to fostering peace by working in, and with the communities that reside within them

Municipal debt-crisis: Can Eskom reduce bulk electricity supply to defaulting municipalities?

This article discusses whether Eskom can decrease bulk electricity supply to defaulting municipalities in terms of a bulk supply agreement without informing the local citizens and businesses residing in a municipality’s jurisdiction. This issue was considered in Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd v. Vaal River Development Association (Pty) Ltd and Others, where the Constitutional Court (CC) confirmed that Eskom may reduce bulk electricity supply to municipalities, subject to it following a fair process, as prescribed in law.

Municipal enterprises in the energy sector: A case of Germany

This article explores how municipalities in Germany are dealing with the energy shortage since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and outlines the legal framework of municipal economic activity. The war in Ukraine has disrupted supply chains across Europe and prompted sharp price increases, especially in the energy market. This has an impact on customers, the economy, and, most significantly, local governments.

The Procurement Bill will be introduced in Parliament: Is it constitutional?

The long-awaited Public Procurement Bill (Bill 2023) will be introduced in Parliament for debate in the second quarter of 2023, after being in the making since 2014. A key question is whether the 2023 Bill in its current form is constitutional. Specifically, does the establishment and the powers assigned to the Central Procurement Office in the Bill encroach on the autonomy of municipalities? This question is likely to be subject of the vetting for constitutional compliance, currently being undertaken by the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor.