Municipal Managers have 14 within which to call the first council meetings
South Africa has once again held the successful local government elections on 3 August 2016. These elections were an important milestone that contributed positively to building a strong democratic South Africa.
Since the IEC declared the 2016 local elections free, fair and officially over on 6 August 2016, South Africans are expecting to see Municipalities hard at work delivering services as per their mandate.
To this effect, Municipal Managers of all municipalities across the country have 14 days within which to call the first council meetings. This is envisaged to happen sooner in most municipalities. In the Municipalities where there is no Municipal Manager, the MEC of the Province can appoint a suitable official to act in that capacity so as to be able to convene the first council meeting.
The 14 days begins when the election results are gazetted. It is important to note in the case of the 2016 Local Government elections, the 14 days begun on 10 August 2016, which is date when the election results were gazetted and ends on 24 August 2016.
It is within this period that Local Municipalities and Metropolitan Municipalities have to convene first council meetings. At the meeting of the council, the speaker will be elected after which the speaker will then take over proceedings and facilitate the election of the mayor of each municipality. The District Municipalities will only convene much later after all Local Municipalities have concluded.
“We are convinced that all our combined efforts will ensure that the 4th Democratic Local government begin with its work of serving communities and delivering services”, said Minister van Rooyen.
Enquiries:
Legadima Leso
Cell: 083 378 9495
