For more information please click here. Prior to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of and preceding the transition to democratic local government, local authorities, as they were then known, were mere creatures of statute created by provincial governments.
Although the different provincial ordinances led to a variety of procedures, structures and processes, the municipalities, established in terms of the ordinances had a common feature. Because of their lack of constitutional status, they were creatures of statute, and possessed only such rights and powers as was specifically or impliedly granted to them by the legislature. It rendered all their actions, including the passing of by-laws, administrative actions, subject to judicial review.
Municipalities, it can be said, thus existed at the mercy of the provinces. In , when the process of democratisation began with the unbanning of liberation movements, local governments were subordinate creatures of statute, comprising a multiplicity of fragmented institutions, racially segregated, which, as a result, provided massively unequal services to different communities.
The transformation of local government was directed at removing the racial basis of government and making it a vehicle for the integration of society and the redistribution of municipal services from the well-off to the poor.
Local government in South Africa entered a new era with the adoption of the Constitution. A municipality now had the right to govern, on its own initiative, the local government affairs of its community. This means that while national and provincial governments may supervise the functioning of local government, this must be done without encroaching on the institutional integrity of local government.
The Constitution further allocates the functional areas of local government competency in Schedules 4B and 5B. Subsequent to the adoption of the Constitution, a comprehensive policy was developed to give effect to the new constitutional vision of local government, which led to the adoption of the White Paper on Local Government by Cabinet in March The White Paper spelt out a framework and programme which would radically transform the existing local government system.
Currently the developmental mandate of local government is effected through metropolitan municipalities in the eight largest urbanised and industrialised centres in the country. They are charged with addressing the key challenges outlined in the White Paper on Local Government, namely, the legacy of urban apartheid by establishing a basis for equitable and inclusive metropolitan governance and development.
They have legislative competence over all the areas listed in Schedules 4B and 5B. Outside the metropolitan areas, the local government mandate is pursued by two-tier local government: local municipalities grouped into 44 district municipalities, sharing the functional competencies listed in Schedules 4B and 5B.
The allocation of responsibilities between the two tiers of local government is prescribed by the Municipal Structures Act of , which must take into account need to provide municipal services in an equitable and sustainable manner.
The transformation of South Africa from a society rooted in discrimination and disparity to a constitutional democracy founded upon freedom, dignity and equality posed, and continues to pose particularly profound challenges at local government level.
It is here that acute imbalances in personal wealth, physical infrastructure and the provision of services were and are often most patent. Two tiers, with responsibilities of local services divided between them:. Across England, there are also around 9, parish and town councils, 10 National Parks responsible for conservation and promotion of scenic areas, as well as local authorities responsible specifically for policing and fire and rescue services.
Since the passing of new legislation in , there is an additional type of regional authority, Combined Authorities , where two or more councils collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries.
Local authorities receive funding from a range of sources, including Government grants, council tax and fees and charges. Funding of local taxation: council tax and business rates. The LGA is the national voice of local government, working with councils to support, promote and improve local government. Forget What You Think You Know is the LGA's new podcast show exploring social issues that are affecting communities in England on a day-to-day basis and what councils are doing to address them.
Home About. What is local government? Local government touches the lives of everybody, every day. Types of local government Depending on where you live, local government consists of at least one or two tiers of authorities.
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