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South Africa

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of South Africa

Constitution Bill of Rights Government Executive President Kgalema Motlanthe Deputy President Baleka Mbete Ministers Legislative Parliament Council of Provinces Chairperson M. J. Mahlangu National Assembly Speaker Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde Leader of the Opposition Helen Zille (national) Sandra Botha (parliamentary) Elections Judiciary Constitutional Court Supreme Court of Appeal High Court Magistrates Courts Provinces Districts (MMs, DMs) Municipalities (list) Political parties Foreign relations

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See also: List of South African Municipalities

Municipalities in South Africa are a division of local government that lie one level down from provincial government, and form the lowest level of democratically elected government structures in the country. The foundation for this layer of government is set out in the Constitution of South Africa (in Chapter 7), but separate acts of parliament have defined the municipal structures since the inception of the current constitution.

Categories of municipalities

Municipalities can belong to one of three categories: metropolitan, district and local (referred to in the constitution as categories A, B and C).

Metropolitan municipalities

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Metropolitan (or "category A") municipalities are large regions, with their own local government structures, and which usually encompass some urbanised region (or regions), which might be regarded as a city.

For example, the Ethekwini municipality contains the city of Durban. In another example, the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, is actually made up of three municipalities, the Johannesburg metropolitan, the Ekurhuleni metropolitan, and the West Rand district. There are six metropolitan municipalities in South Africa.

District and local municipalities

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District (or "category C") municipalities are the main divisions of South Africa's provinces; this level of municipalities is itself sub-divided into other Local (or "category B") Municipalities. Local Municipalities share authority with the District Municipality in which they fall.

For example, the Msunduzi Local Municipality, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, is contained within the District Municipality of uMgungundlovu.

Layering of municipalities

The "district" layer

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Metropolitan and District Municipalities form the layer of government directly below provinces in the country. Between them, the Six Metropolitan Municipalities and 46 District Municipalities cover the entirety of the continental area of the country.

The local layer

Local Municipalities represent a subdivision of the District Municipalities, and form the third layer of government. Metropolitan Municipalities have no such official subdivisions, but in one case, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, custom subdivisions have been established, known as administrative regions.

Electoral wards

The final layer of subdivision of electoral regions in South Africa are electoral wards. Local and metropolitan municipalities are subdivided into electoral wards.

Legislation concerning Municipalities

Apart from Chapter 7 of the South African Constitution the South African Parliament has passed several pieces of legislation to deal specifically with local government in South Africa. The following Acts of Parliament deal specifically with Municipal Structures:

1. Local Government: Municipal Systems Act(Original Act)
2. Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act
3. Redetermination of the Boundaries of Cross-Boundary Municipalities Act

Name Changes with regard to Municipalities and Cities South Africa

The South African Geographical Names Council is a statutory body that deals specifically with changing names of places in South Africa, including municipalities.

External links

• Municipal Demarcations Board of South Africa
• South African Local Government Association Home Page
• Chapter 7 of the Constitution of South Africa This chapter describes the municipal government structure in the country.