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Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act


Published: 2000-10-13

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Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act [No. 33 of 2000]
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REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRI~&:T-:-7;--”-:F’--7-~
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
STAATSKOERANT
VAN DIE REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA
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Registered at the Post Of)ice as a Newspape)- AS ‘n Nuusblad by die Poskantoor Geregistreer
CAPE TOWN, 13 OCTOBER 2000 V(.X-. 424 No. 21652
KAAPSTAD, 13 OKTOBER 2000
I THE PRESIDENCY
I No. 1016. 13 October 2000
It is hereby notified that the President has assented to the following Act which is hereby published for general inforrnation:—
No. 33 of 2000: Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act, 2000.
DIE PRESIDENSIE
No. 1016. 13 Oktober 2000
Hierby word bekend gemaak dat die President Sy goed- keuring geheg het aan die onderstaande Wet wat hlerby ter algemene inligting gepubliseer word:—
No. 33 van 2000: Wysigingswet op Plaaslike Regering: Munisi- pale Strukture, 2000.
2 No. 21652 GOVERNMENT GAZE1’TE, 13 OCTOBER 2000
Act No. 33,2000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT ACT, 21XN)
GENERAL EXPLANATORY NOTE:
[ 1 Words in bold type in square brackets indicate omissions from existing enactments.
Words underlined with a solid line indicate insertions in existing enactments.
(English text signed by the President.) (Assented to 11 October 2000,)
ACT To amend the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998, so as to further regulate the contents of notices establishing municipalities; to further regulate transitional measures when existing municipalities are disestablished and new municipalities established; to further regulate the determination of the number of councillors; to redetermine the provisions from which a municipality may be exempted; to determine the date on which the first term of municipalities end; and to further regulate the transitional arrangements; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, asfollows: CHAPTER 1
AMENDMENT OF ACT 117 OF 1998
Amendment of section 12 of Act 117 of 1998, as amended by section 93 of Act 27 of 2000
1. Section 12 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), is hereby amended—
(u) by the substitution in subsection (3) for the words preceding paragraph (a) of the following words:
“The notice establishing the municipality must [specify] set out—”; (b) by the insertion in subsection (3) of the following paragraph after paragraph
(d): “(dA) in the case of a metropolitan or local municipality. the number of
wards in the municipality:”; and (c) by the deletion of paragraph (g) of subsection (3).
Amendment of section 14 of Act 117 of 1998
2. Section 14 of the principal Act is hereby amended— (a) bv the substitution for subsection (1) of the following subsection:
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“(1) (a) A municipality established in ter& of section 12 in a 20 particular area, supersedes the existing municipality or municipalities to the extent that the existing municipality or municipalities fall within that area.
(b) The superseding municipality becomes the successor in law of the existing municipality subject to paragraph (c). 25
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4 No. 21652 GOVERNMENT GAZEITE, 13 OCTOBER 2000
Act No. 33,2000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT ACT. 2000
(c) Where a district municipality and one or more local municipalities within the area of the district municipality supersede the , existing municipality or municipalities in that area, the district and local municipalities in that area become the successors in law of the existing municipality or municipalities depending on the specific assets, liabili- ties, rights and obligations allocated to the district and local municipali- ties respectively in terms of the relevant section 12 notice or notic&. ”;
(b) by the substitution in subsection (2) for the words preceding paragraph (a) of the following words:
“(2) If subsection ( I ) is applicable, the section 12 notice, or any amendment of the section 12 notice. must—”: and
(c) by the substitution in subsection (2) for paragraph (b) of the following paragraph:
“(b) regulate the legal, practical and other consequences of the total or partial disestablishment of the existing municipality, including—
(i)
(ii)
( I l l )
(iv)
Provided that
the vacation of office by councillors of the existing municipality: the transfer of staff from the existing municipality to the superseding municipality. or. if there is more than one supersedin,z municipality. to any of the superseding municipalities: the transfer of ussets. liabilities, rights ond obligations, and administrative and other records. from the existing municipality to the superseding municipality, or, if there is more than one superseding municipality, to any of the supersedin,z municipalities. taking into account the inter- ests of creditors of the existing municipality; and the continued application of any by-laws [, regulations] and resolutions of the existing municipality to or in that area. and the extent of such application: if the superseding municipality is a district or local
municipality a transfer referred to in subparagraph (ii) or (iii) must be
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effected in a way that would enable the superseding municipality to perform the functions or exercise the powers assigned to it in terms of section 84( 1 ) or (2).”; 35
(d) by the substitution for subsection (3) of the following subsection: “(3) (u) The transfer of g staff member in terms of a section 12 notice
must [ta~e place] be— (i) on conditions of service not less favorable than those under which
that staff member served in the existing municipality; and 40 (@ in accordance with the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of
1995). (b) A section 12 notice transferring staff of an existing municipality to
a superseding municipality may determine that— (i)
(ii)
‘the staff-transfe~ed ~rom t_he existing municipality to the supersed- 45 ing municipality fom an administrative unit that functions as such until the superseding municipality has established a staff structure and has appointed staff to positions on that staff structure: and such administrative unit functions under the control of the municipal manager or acting municipal manager of the superseding I 50 municipality. ”
Amendment of section 16 of Act 117 of 1998
3. Section 16 of the principal Act is hereby amended by the deletion of pamgmph (e) of subsection ( l).
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6 NO. 21652 Government GAZE’tTE, 13 OCTOBER 2000
Act No. 33,2000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNICLPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT ACT, 2000
Amendment of section 20 of Act 117 of 1998
4. Section 20 of the principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution in subsection (1) for paragraph (a) of the following paragraph:
“(u) must be determined in accordance with a formula determined by the Minister by notice in the Government Gazette, which formula must be based on the number of voters registered on that municipality’s segment of the national common voters’ roll on a date determined in the notice;”.
Amendment of section 81 of Act 117 of 1998 ‘
5. Section 81 of the principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for the expression “10 per cent”’, wherever it occurs, of the expression “20 per cent”.
.Amendment of section 84 of Act 117 of 1998
6, Section 84 of the principal Act is hereby amended— (a) by the substitution for subsection (1) of the following subsection:
“b(1) A district municipaIitv has the following functions and Powers: (a)
(b)
(c)
(dJ
(e)
(f)
(g) (h)
(i)
(j)
Integrated development-planning for the district municipality as a whole, including a framework for integrated development plans [for the local municipalities within] of all municipalities in the area of the district municipality, taking into account the integrated development plans of those local municipalities]. [Bulk supply of water that affects a significant proportion of municipalities in the district] Potable water supp IV systems. Bulk supply of electricity [that affects a significant proportion of municipalities in the district], which includes for the purposes of such supply. the transmission. distribution and. where applicable. the generation of electricity. [Bulk sewage purification works and main sewage disposal that affects a significant proportion of municipalities in the district] Domestic waste-water and sewage disposal systems. Solid waste disposal sites [serving the area of the district
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municipality as a whole], in so far as it relates to-
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(i) the determination of a waste disposal strategy: (ii) the regulation of waste disposal”
(iii) the establishment, operat]on and control of waste disposal sites, bulk waste transfer facilities and waste disposal facilities for more than one local municipality in the dis~rict.
Municipal roads which form an integral part of a road transport system for the area of the district municipality as a whole. Regulation of passenger transport services, Municipal airports serving the area of the district municipality as Q whole. Municipal health services [serving the area of the district municipality as a whole]. Fire fighting services serving the areo of the district municipality as a whole, which includes—
(i) planning, co-ordination and regulation of tire services; (ii) specialised tire fighting services such m mountain, veld and
chemical fire services; (iii) co-ordination of the standardisation of infrastructure, vehicles.
equipment and procedures; (iv) training of fire officers.
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8 No. 21652 GOVERNMENT GAZE17E, 13 OCTOBER 2000
Act No. 33,2000 LOCAL GOVERNMEW MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT ACT, 2000
(k) The establishment, conduct and control of fresh produce markets and abattoirs serving the area of [the district municipality as a whole] a major proportion of the municipalities in the district.
(1) The establishment, conduct and control of cemeteries and cremato- ria serving the [district as a whole] area of a major proportion of 5 municipalities in the district.
(m) Promotion of local tourism for the area of the district municipality. (n) Municipal public works relating to any of the above functions or
any other functions assigned to the district municipality. (o) The receipt, allocation ~d, if applicable. the distribution of grants 10
made to the district rnumcipality. (p) The imposition md collection of taxes, levies and duties as related
to the above functions or as may be assigned to the district municipality in terms of national legislation.”: and
(b) by the substitution for subsection (3) of the following subsection: 15 “(3 )(a) The Minister may, by notice in the G&ernment Gazette, and
after consultation with the Cabinet member responsible for the func- tional area in question, and after consulting- the MEC for local I government in the province and, if applicable, subject to national legislation, authorise a local municipality to perform a function or exercise a power mentioned in subsection ( 1 ) (b), (c), (d) or (i) in its area or any aspect of such function or power.
(b) The Minister must in the notice referred to in paragraph (a) regulate the legal, practical and other consequences of the authorisation. which may include— (i) the transfer of staff
(ii) the transfer of assets. liabilities, rights and obligations, and administrative and other records; and
(iii) the continued application of any by-laws and resolutions in the area of the municipalities concerned and the extent of such application.
(c) The Minister may amend a notice issued in terms of paragraph (a) I to effect technical changes or to regulate the authorisation more I effectively.”.
Amendment of section 85 of Act 117 of 1998
7. Section 85 of the principal Act is hereby amended by— 35 (a) the substitution in subsection(1) for paragraph (b) of the following paragraph:
“(b) in the district municipality (excluding a function or power referred to in section 84(1) (a), (b), (c), (d), (i), (o) or (p), to the local municipality.”; and
(b) by the addition of the following subsection: 40 “(10) This section does not app Iy before the date of the first elections
of municipal councils in terms of this Act.”.
Substitution of section 86 of Act 117 of 1998
8. The following section is hereby substituted for section 86 of the principal Act:
“Resolution of disputes concerning performance of functions or 45 exercise of powers
86. [If a district and a local municipality perform a function or exercise a power of a similar nature and] If a dispute arises between [them] a district and a local municipality con=e.ming the performance of [that] q function or the exercise of [that] g power, the MEC for local 50 government in the province, after consulting them, may. by notice in the ft-o~inciul Gacerte. resolve the dispute by defining their respective roles in the performance of that function or in the exercise of that power.”.
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10 No. 21652 GOVERNMENT GAZEITE, 13 OCTOBER 2000
Act No. 33,2000 LOCAL GOVERNME~ MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT ACT. 2000
Amendment of section 90 of Act 117 of 1998
9. Section 90 of the principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution in the Afrikaans text in subsection (2) for the words “betrokke munisipaliteit” of the words “betrokke provinsies”.
Amendment of section 91 of Act 117 of 1998 5
10. Section 91 of the principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection ( 1) of the following subsection:
“(1 ) The MEC for local govemmerit in a province. within a policy fmmework as mav be determined by the Minister, and bv notice in the Provincial Gazette, mav ex~mpt a municipali~y in the province fr~m [a provision of section] any of th~ 10 provisions of sections 36 [(2),] (3) or (4), 38, [to 41] 39, 45 to 47, 48(2), (3) [and] qr (4), 50 to 53.58, 65 to 71.75 and 76.”. —
Amendment of section 93 of Act 117 of 1998
11. Section 93 of the principal Act is hereby amended— (a) by the substitution for subsection (2) of the following subsection:
“(2) If any conflict relating to the matters dealt with in this Act arises between this Act and the provisions of any other law, except the Constitution and Chapter 2 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act. 2000, the provisions of this Act prevail.”;
(b) by the substitution for subsection (3) of the following subsection: “(3) The first term of all municipal councils after the enactment of this
Act expires [not later than 1 November 2000 as determined by the Minister by notice in the Government Gazette] on 31 October 2000.”; and
(c) by the addition of the following subsections: “(4) Despite anything to the contrary in any other law and as from the
date on which a municipal council has been declared elected as contemplated in item 26(1)(a) of Schedule 6 to the Constitution— (a) section IOG of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act No.
209 of 1993), read with the necessary changes. apply to such a municipality; and
(b) any regulation made under section 12 of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act No. 209 of 1993), and which relates to section 10G of that Act, read with the necessary changes, apply to such a municipality.
(5) For purposes of subsection (4)— (a) any reference in section 10G of the Local Government Transition
Act, 1993 (Act No. 209 of 1993). or a regulation referred to in subsection (4)(b), to---
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
‘chairperson of the council’ must be construed as a reference to the speaker of the council: ‘chief executive officer’ must be construed as a reference to the municipal manager appointed in terms of section 82: ‘local council’, ‘metropolitan council’, ‘metropolitan local council’ and ‘rural council’ must be construed as a reference to a municipal council: ‘MEC’ must be construed as a reference to the member of the Executive Council of a province responsible for local gover- nment: ‘MEC responsible for Finance’ must be constmed as a reference to the member of the Executive Council of a province responsible for finances in the province; and ‘remaining area’ and ‘areas of jurisdiction of representative councils’ must be construed as a reference to a district mana~ement area; and
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55 (b) section 10~ of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act No.
~0~ of 1993), must be regarded as having been amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (6):
12 No. 21652 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13 OCTOBER 2000
Act No. 33,2000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT ACT, 2000
(6A) (a) Despite anything to the contrary in any other law, a municipality must value property for purposes of imposing rates on property in accordance with generally recognised valuation practices, methods and standards. (b) For purposes of paragraph (a)—
(i)
(ii)
physical inspection of the property to be valued, is optional; and in lieu of valuation by a valuer, or in addition thereto, comparative. analytical and other systems or techniques may be used, ipcluding—
(aa) aerial photography; (bb) information technology; (cc) computer applications and software; and (old) computer assisted mass appraisal systems or tech-
niques. (6) A district municipality or a metropolitan municipality may levy
and claim a regional services levy and a regional establishment levy referred to in section 12(1)(a) of the Regional Services Councils Act. 1985. or section 16(1)(a) of the KwaZulu and Natal Joint Services Act. 1990.”’,
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CHAPTER 2
TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPECT OF NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISPENSATION
Definitions
12. (1) In this Chapter a word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Structures Act, has that meaning and, unless the context otherwise indicates— “existing municipality” means a municipality established in terms of legislation other than the Structures Act before the date of the first elections of municipal councils in terms of that Act; “new municipality” means a municipality established or to be established in terms of the Structures Act; “section 12 notice” means a notice envisaged in section 12 ( 1 ) of the Structures Act; “Structures Act” means the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act No. 117 of 1998); “superseding municipality y“ means a new municipality which wholly or partially supersedes an existing municipality in accordance with section 14 ( 1 ) of the Structures Act: “transition” means the process of putting into operation the new local government dispensation as set out in the Structures Act read with Chapter 7 of the Constitution.
Duration of transition
13. (1) The transition ends two years from the date of the first election of municipal councils in terms of the Structures Act, unless the Minister determines a shorter period by notice in the Government Gazette.
(2) This Chapter lapses when the transition ends.
Transitional application of section 12 of Act 117 of 1998
14. (1) For purposes of the transition, section 12 of the Structures Act must be regarded as permitting—
(a) a new municipality to be named in the section 12 notice by way of a provisional designation which must consist of or include the number allocated to the area of the municipality when that area was demarcated in terms of the Demarcation Act; and
(b) the establishment of a district municipality, the establishment of local municipalities within the area of the district municipality, and the total or
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14 No. 21652 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13 OCTOBER 2000
Act No. 33,2000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNtCIPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT ACT, 2000
partial disestablishment of existing municipalities within that area, to be effected by way of the same section 12 notice.
(2) Section 12 (4) of the Structures Act does not apply during the transition.
Transitional application of section 14 of Act 117 of 1998
15. For purposes of the transition— 5 (a)
(b)
~ect~on 14(2)(b) of the Structures Act must be regarded as permitting the regulation of any legal, practical and other consequences of the disestablishment of an existing ‘municipality, to be effected by way of an amendment to the section 12 notice disestablishing the existing municipality, provided the notice is amended before the date on which the disestablishment 10 of the existing municipality takes effect; and section 14(5) of the Structures Act must be regarded to read as follows:
“(S)(a) The MEC for local govemmen~ in a province, by notice in the Provincial Gazette, may make provision for transitional measures to facilitate the disestablishment of an existing municipality and the 15 establishment of a new municipality.
(b) The measures contemplated in paragraph (a) may include measures— (i) establishing a committee to advise the MEC on any matter affecting
the transition; or 20 (ii) in relation to the existing municipality, restricting or regulating
the— (au) (bb) (cc) (old) (ee) (f)
(L%’(?)
alterations to the stati establishment; appointment of staff or the filling of vacancies: upgrading of posts or promotions; 25
increases in salaries or wages; disposal or acquisition of assets; conclusion of contracts with a duration longer than one year or the renewal of such contracts; or use of reserve caDital. 30
(c) The MEC must consuit the existing municipality before publishing the notice contemplated in paragraph (a).”.
Transitional application of section 16 of Act 117 of 1998
16. (1) For purposes of the transition, section 16 (2) of the Structures Act must be regmded to read as follows: 35
“(2) Any amendment of a section 12 notice must be consistent with the provisions of this Act read with the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act, 2000.”.
(2) Section 16 (3) of the Structures Act does not apply when a section 12 notice is amended for purposes of the transition. 40
Transitional arrangement in respect of notice and consultation ~
17. For put-poses of the transition, the MEC for local government in a province must. before publishing a notice in terms of section 12 or 16 of the Structures Act—
(a) consult organised local government in the province; and (b) publish particulars of the proposed notice for public comment for at least 14 451
days.
Temporary authorisations
18. (1) The MEC for local government in a province, by notice in the Provincial Gazerfe, may authorise—
(a) a local municipality to perform a function or exercise a power of a nature 5 described in section 84(1) (e), (j), (g), (h), 0), (k), (1), (m) and (n) in its mea or an aspect of such function or powe~ or I
16 No. 21652 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13 OCTOBER 2000
Act No. 33,2000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES AMENDMENT ACT. 20C0
(b) a district municipality to perform a function or exercise a power of the nature referred to in section 84(2) in the area of a local municipality, or an aspect of such function or power.
(2) The MEC may issue an authorisation in terms of subsection (1) only if— (a) the district municipality or the local municipality, as the case may be, cannot
or does not perform the function or exercise the power in the relevant area or if, for any other reason, it is necessary to ensure the continued performance of the function or exercise of the power in that area; and
(b) the Demarcation Board has recommended the authorisation. (3)(a) If the Demarcation Board ,has made a recommendation in favour of an
authorisation and the MEC disagrees ivith the recommendation, the MEC must furnish reasons, in writing, to the Board and the Minister.
(b) After considering the reasons furnished by the MEC and after consulting the Demarcation Board, the Minister may by notice in the Government Gazette issue the authorisation subject to subsection (2)(22).
(4) The MEC or the Minister must in the notice referred to in subsection ( 1 ) or (3). as the case may be, regulate the legal, practical and other consequences of the authorisation, which may include—
(i) the transfer of staff, (ii) the transfer of assets, liabilities, rights and obligations. and administrative and
other records; and (iii) the continued application of any by-laws and resolutions in the area of the
municipalities concerned and the extent of such application. (5) The MEC or Minister may amend a notice issued in terms of subsection(1) or (3).
as the case may be, to effect technical changes or to regulate the authorisation more effectively.
(6) ((z) The MEC must revoke an authorisation issued in terms of subsection(1) or ( 3 ) if—
(i) the Demarcation Board so recommends; or (ii) an adjustment concerning the relevant function or power is made in terms of
section 85. (b) The Demarcation Board must so recommend if the reason for the authorisation is
no longer valid. (7) When an authorisation is revoked in terms of subsection (6) or lapses in terms of
section 13, the MEC must. if necessary, regulate by notice in the Provincial Ga;etfc the legal, practical and other consequences resulting from the revocation or lapsing of the authorisation, which may include—
(a) the transfer of staff
(b) the transfer of assets, liabilities, rights and obligations, and administrative and other records: and
(c) the continued application of any by-laws, and resolutions in the area of the municipalities concerned and the extent of such application.
Transitional arrangement in respect of section 20 of Act 117 of 1998
19. For the first election of municipal councils after the enactment of this Act. the date contemplated in section 20( 1)(a) of the Structures Act. as amended by section 2 of this Act, must be regarded as 31 March 2000.
Short title
20. This Act is called the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act. 2000.
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