How does local government work?
Local government in South Africa is an important level of government responsible for many aspects of service delivery. It is given an important role by the Constitution, our highest law. According to the Constitution, one of the main objectives of local government is “to encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in the matters of local government.” You can read more about what the Constitution says here.
If you know how local government works, you can help people and groups get involved in solving community problems.
You can find a detailed Activists Guide to Making Local Government Work here.
Know your rights
It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.
Key parts of local government
Structure of local government:
- South Africa’s local government is split into eight metros, 44 districts, and 205 local municipalities. You can find a map with all the municipalities and their key officials here.
- Each level has elected councillors and an executive committee. Public servants staff local government departments. They are paid to make sure communities get the services they need.
- You can find the law governing local government here.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Municipalities provide services like electricity, water, sanitation, and rubbish removal.
- They also look after local infrastructure, public transport, and recreational facilities.
Elections and representation:
- Councils, within each municipality, are elected every five years. There are separate elections for metro and local councils.
- In metro areas, voters choose parties and ward candidates. A ward is a subdivision of your municipality. Every municipality is divided into wards.
- Councils have a mix of directly elected and councillors from local councils.
Engaging with local councillors:
- To find your ward councillor, click here.
Accountability and involvement:
- Stories on news platforms, for example Ground Up and NGOs like Corruption Watch show you how to hold councillors accountable, take action and tackle corruption with tips from Corruption Watch here.
- If you want to get more involved, think about joining your ward committee.
Useful resources
The South African Local Government Association (SALGA)
Local Government Bulletin (published by the Dullah Omar Institute)
Making Local Government Work: An Activist’s Guide
Acknowledgements: Photograph: Govan Mbeki Municipality
Get your community involved
Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.
Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.
How to set up a community group
How to start a residents' association
How to set up a community policing forum
How to set up a neighbourhood watch
How to organise community action
How to use media to create pressure for change
Know your rights – how local government works
It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.
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