LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW WORKSHOP

HIGHER CERTIFICATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

28 MARCH 2015

INTRODUCTION

Lecturer/FacilitatorAndrew TuckerB Com LLB, Attorney of the High Court of South AfricaContact details:andrew.tucker46@gmail.com

WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

• 13:30 – 14:15 Course Overview• 14:15 – 14:20 Break• 14:20 – 14:50 Assignment Questions• 14:50 – 15:00 Your questions and problem areas

RESOURCES

•www.letslearnmore.weebly.com

COURSE OVERVIEW

• Let’s examine some key areas and concepts

INTRODUCTION TO LG

• Definition: Local governance describes the process of making decisions, allocating funds and delivering services at the local level.

• It involves actors (e.g. mayors, local councils, NGOs, business associations), formal and informal institutions (e.g. municipal administration, council, but also rules and regulations), and available means (e.g. human resources, money).

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Constitution reigns supreme• Spheres of government• Co-operative government

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS

• Grassroots democracy• Closest to the people • Able to respond to the needs of a particular area

NATURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• A local area and local community formed by common interests, whether rural, urban or regional;

• Participation by a local community in the government of its local affairs – grassroots democracy;

• A local political unit with executive and legislative powers of government as the third sphere of government, and powers of taxation to control, regulate and develop local affairs and render services by means of co –operative government.

THE THREE CATEGORIES OF LOCAL GOVT

• Category A – Metropolitan Municipalities • 8 of them – Jhb, Cpt, Dbn etc

• Category B – Local Municipalities• Falls into a district & shares powers & functions

• Category C – District Municipalities• Comprised of a number of local municipalities

THE DUTIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• The provision of democratic and accountable government for local communities.

• Ensure the provision of services in a sustainable manner.• To promote social and economic development.• A safe and healthy environment.• The involvement of communities and community organizations

within local government.

THE SEPARATION OF POWERS

LEVEL OF GOVT LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE JUDICIARY

NATIONAL PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT COURTS

PROVINCIAL PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE PREMIER COURTS

LOCAL MUNICIPAL COUNCIL MAYOR COURTS

SUPREMACY OF CONSTITUTION & LG STATUS

• Constitution is our supreme law – everything tested against the Constitution• Constitution provides for local government status

NATIONAL & PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT POWERS

• National and Provincial Government have power to ensure municipalities perform their functions efficiently and effectively

S139 OF THE CONSTITUTION

• Limits the powers of Provincial government to interfere with LG

• Can intervene only when LG has not done what it is supposed to do.

PRINCIPLES AND GOALS OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION• 195. Basic values and principles governing public administration

1. Public administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution, including the following principles:

a. A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained.

b. Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted.

c. Public administration must be development-oriented.

d. Services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias.

e. People's needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy- making.

f. Public administration must be accountable.

g. Transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information.

h. Good human-resource management and career-development practices, to maximise human potential, must be cultivated.

i. Public administration must be broadly representative of the South African people, with employment and personnel management practices based on ability, objectivity, fairness, and the need to redress the

imbalances of the past to achieve broad representation.

LAW MAKING PROVISIONS

• Section 156 (2)• A municipality may make and administer by-laws for the

effective administration of the matters which it has the right to administer

Pg 60 Local Government Law Study Guide, Mancosa

NO DELEGATION OF LEGISLATIVE POWER

• SEC 160 prohibits the delegation of law making powers• The power to make law vests in the municipal council. The council

cannot dispose of that power by delegating it to any committee, office-bearer or municipal official.• This includes the approval of a budget

DEVELOPMENTAL DUTIES OF MUNICIPALITIES

• Structure and manage its • Administration• Budgeting • Planning processes to give priority to the basic needs of the

community,

FINANCES

• Duties of the accounting officer• Audits• Unsound finances• Sources of income

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• One of the most important duties of a municipal council is to manage its funds effectively. This means:• Drawing up a budget - working out what income the

municipality will receive and balancing this with what they think they will have to spend it on;

• Protecting the income, capital and assets such as money in the bank, motor vehicles, computer equipment, by putting in proper controls.

TENDERS

• Procurement policy• Fairness and transparency • PFMA

ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS 1 AND 2

• General discussion

QUESTION 3

• Resources• The Role of Ward Committees in South Africa, T Smith, 2008• Ward Committee Resource Book, Dept Provincial & Local

Government, 2005• Local Government law, Johan Meyer, 1998, Butterworths• Municipal Administration – The handbook, DL Craythorne, 6th

Ed, 2006, Juta at page 116

QUESTION 4

• Resources• Municipal Administration – The handbook, DL Craythorne, 6th

Ed, 2006, Juta at page 298• Local Government law, Johan Meyer, 1998, Butterworths at

page 28

QUESTION 5• Resources• Municipal Administration – The handbook, DL Craythorne, 6th

Ed, 2006, Juta at pages 283 – 287• PRESENTATION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE,

SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE DoCG TO MUNICIPALITIES PLACED UNDER ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION 139 OF THE CONSTITUTION, 1996, Department of Cooperative Governance, 11 September 2013