The 1996 Constitution establishes local government as a fully fledged sphere of government with constitutionally protected powers. In 2000, an elaborate legal framework for local government came into operation and has been developing ever since. The course entails an examination of this constitutional and legal framework and equips students to locate, analyse and apply the legal framework on the following topics:

-       Municipal governance structures, i.e. political structures, elections and governance arrangements in municipalities;

-       Powers and functions of municipalities;

-       Community participation and municipal management tools;

-       Municipal administration;

-       Municipal services;

-       Municipal financial management, including budgeting and financial reporting

-       Municipal revenue, including property rates, service fees, taxes and intergovernmental finance;

-       Municipal expenditure;

-       Supervision of municipalities

-       Municipalities and cooperative government.