Legislature’s CoGTA calls for stakeholders input on the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill [B 19B—2018]
Led by Chairperson, Honourable Dr. Nomathemba Mokgethi, the Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on CoGTA and Human Settlements will host a public hearings to solicit written submissions and comments on the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill [B 19B—2018], as amended by the National Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
The Municipal Structures Amendment Bill [B 19B—2018] applies to the Municipal Structures Act, 1998, so as to insert, delete and amend certain definitions; remove all references to district management areas, as well as references to plenary executive system as a type of municipality. And in addition to providing a uniform legislative framework for the structure and functioning for effective regulation of municipal structures amendment bill practices, the Act also:
- Provides for a minimum of 10 councillors per municipality;
- Amends the deviation threshold; to provide for the prohibition of a councillor who was found guilty of a breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors for a period of two years;
- Clarifies the date of assumption of office by a councillor; to allow for extension on the declaration of the result of an election;
- Requires the municipal manager to inform the MEC for local government in the province in addition to the Electoral Commission of ward vacancies;
- Provides for the MEC to call and set the date for by-elections;
- Clarifies who can inform the municipal manager of a specific vacancy;
- Allows the MEC to designate a person to call and chair a meeting of the municipal council when the speaker;
- Provide for a whip of municipal council;
- Clarifies the formula for the composition of an executive committee;
- Provides for the establishment of a Municipal Public Accounts Committee;
- Provides for the resolution of a situation where excessive seats may arise from the seat calculation in local municipalities;
- Amends the timeframe for the municipal manager to inform the chief electoral officer of vacancies;
- Allows for the MEC to inform the chief electoral officer of vacancies if the municipal manager fails to do so;
- Clarifies the supplementation of party lists for local municipalities;
- Provides for the resolution of multiple seats which may arise where a candidate qualifies to be elected to more than one seat;
- Clarifies the supplementation of party lists for district municipalities;
- Provides for a Code of Conduct for Councillors; and
- Provides for matters connected therewith.
The full version of the Bill can be downloaded and read by following the link: http://gpl.gov.za/municipal-structures-bill-b19b-2018/
The Public Hearings are scheduled to take place as follows:
Ekurhuleni
Date: Saturday, 14 March 2020
Time:10h00 -14h00
Place: Germiston Hall, Ekurhuleni
Johannesburg
Date: Sunday, 15 March 2020
Time :10h00 -14h00
Place: Johannesburg City Hall
All interested stakeholders and organizations are invited to forward their written submissions and comments (preferably via email) before or on 21st March 2020. Submissions can be forwarded to Ms Jackie Moteke on 079 522 8669 or e-mail jmoteke@gpl.gov.za; and Ms Jabulile Nyembe on 079 522 8686 or jnyembe@gpl.gov.za.
Physical submissions can be made to: 43 Rissik St, Johannesburg, 2000 (main entrance; Cnr. Helen Joseph and Loveday str).
Enquiries:
Sinethemba Sibiya
Tel: 011 498 5574
Cell: 064 750 5353
E-mail: SSibiya@gpl.gov.za
