Page:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 from Government Gazette.djvu/65



Chapter 7—Local Government

Status of municipalities

The local sphere of government consists of municipalities, which must be established for the whole of the territory of the Republic.

The executive and legislative authority of a municipality is vested in its Municipal Council.

A municipality has the right to govern, on its own initiative, the local government affairs of its community, subject to national and provincial legislation, as provided for in the Constitution.

The national or a provincial government may not compromise or impede a municipality’s ability or right to exercise its powers or perform its functions.

Objects of local government

The objects of local government are —

to provide democratic and accountable government for local communities; to ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner; to promote social and economic development; to promote a safe and healthy environment; and to encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in the matters of local government.

A municipality must strive, within its financial and administrative capacity, to achieve the objects set out in subsection (1).

Developmental duties of municipalities

A municipality must —

structure and manage its administration and budgeting and planning processes to give priority to the basic needs of the community, and to promote the social and economic development of the community; and participate in national and provincial development programmes.

Municipalities in co-operative government

The national government and provincial governments, by legislative and other measures, must support and strengthen the