Municipal councils exercise both legislative and executive functions. This was intended to facilitate hands-on governance and synergy between elected representatives, the executive and the administration. The proximity was meant to facilitate a more vibrant and responsive municipality that would ultimately result in efficient service delivery. This system, however, demands checks and balances and role definition in order to avoid role confusion, conflict and abuse of power.

Local government legislation establishes various organs within the municipality and broadly defines the functions of these organs. It also creates various instruments for accountability and oversight. Importantly, municipalities themselves must define the precise roles of their organs in delegations and terms of reference. These role  definitions, terms of reference and instruments of accountability are intended to produce clear and sound internal municipal governance arrangements. This, in turn, is meant to define and shape the relationships within the municipal council and between the council and the administration. Whatever cannot be solved in strictly institutional or legal terms needs to be solved through agreed protocols, gentleman’s agreements and working arrangements.

[excerpt taken from the Executive Summary of the Report]