The existence of the office of the Municipal Manager derives its mandate from various pieces of legislation including the Municipal Structures Act, Municipal Systems Act and Municipal Finance Management Act. In terms of section 82 of the Municipal Structures Act, 1998 the Municipal Council must appoint a Municipal Manager who shall be the head of administration and the Accounting Officer of the municipality. The Municipal Manager as head of administration in line with provision of section 55 of the Municipal Systems Act is subject to the policy directions of the municipal council, responsible and accountable for the:

• the formation and development of an economical, effective, efficient and accountable administration equipped to carry out the task of implementing the municipality’s integrated development plan, operating in accordance with the municipality’s performance management system and responsive to the needs of the local community to participate in the affairs of the municipality;

• the management of the municipality’s administration in accordance with Municipal Systems Act and other pieces of legislation applicable to the municipality;

• the implementation of the municipality’s integrated development plan and the monitoring of progress with implementation of the plan;

• the management of the provision of services to the local community in a sustainable and equitable manner;

• manage human resources, that include appointment of staff, training and development, sound labour relations and compliance by the municipality to all applicable human resource prescripts;

• advising the political structures and political office bearers of the municipality and implementation of council decisions;

• managing communications between the municipality’s administration and its political structures and political office bearers;

• facilitating participation by the local community in the affairs of the municipality;

• the implementation of national and provincial legislation applicable to the municipality; and

• performance of any other function that may be assigned by the Municipal Council.

It should be noted that, the Municipal Manager is also responsible and accountable for all income and expenditure of the municipality, all assets and the discharge of all liabilities of the municipality, proper and diligent compliance with applicable municipal finance management legislation.

The purpose of the Office of the Municipal Manager is “To coordinate and manage the provision of service delivery in accordance with the legislation governing local government.” and the functions are as follows:

• Manage technical services;

• Coordinate the provision of community services;

• Coordinate municipal planning and economic development;

• Manage communication, IGR and contact centre services.

• Manage financial matters;

• Manage corporate services;

• Render internal audit services;

• Render risk management services;

• Manage organizational performance management system; and

• Manage and coordinate the provision of municipal services in the service delivery units.

The creation of the component is mandated by pieces of legislation that include the Constitution of the of South Africa, 1996. Schedule 4 part B of the Constitution makes provisions for administering air pollution, building regulations, childcare facilities, firefighting services, municipal airports, municipal planning, municipal health services, municipal public transport and municipal public works. Section 24 of the Constitution of South Africa together with schedule 5 part B states that, everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations. This should be done through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

Schedule 5B gives mandate to the local municipality to administer billboards and the display of advertisements, cemeteries, funeral parlours and crematoria, cleansing, control of public nuisances,  selling of liquor to the public, local amenities, local sport facilities, markets, municipal parks and recreation, noise pollution, refuse removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal, street trading, street lighting traffic and parking. 

The purpose of the Department is “To coordinate the provision of community services” and the functions are as follows:

• Render disaster, security management and law enforcement services;

• Coordinate waste management and environmental services;

• Coordinate the maintenance of parks, sports and cemeteries;

• Render traffic management services;

• Render fire management services;

• Manage the provision of drivers licensing services; and

• Render library and information services.

The Department of Corporate Services pivotal in the support of all municipal functions. This department is mandated by various pieces of legislation including the Constitution. Section 195 (i) of the Constitution states that public administration must be broadly representative of the South African people with employment and personnel management practices based on ability, objectivity, fairness and the need to redress the imbalances of the past to achieve broad representation. Public administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles of good human resource management and career-development practices to maximise human potential.

The purpose of this department is “To manage corporate services” and the functions are as follows:

• Render human resource management and development services;

• Render legal services;

• Render secretariat and records management services;

• Manage information and communication technology services;

• Provide maintenance to municipal buildings; and

• Render vehicle and plant mechanical services;

• Manage municipal fleets

The existence of this department is mandated by chapter 9 of Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003). Section 80 of the Municipal Finance Management Act mandate the establishment of Budget and Treasury Office and makes provision for the Accounting Officer to designate the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the local municipality. The role of the Chief Financial Officer of a municipality is to:

• Advise the Accounting Officer on the exercise of powers and duties assigned to the Accounting Officer in terms of this Act;

• Assist the Accounting Officer in the administration of the municipality's bank accounts and in the preparation and implementation of the municipality's budget;

• Must advise senior managers and other senior officials in the exercise of powers and duties on financial management matters; and

• Perform budgeting, accounting analysis, financial reporting, cash management, debt management, supply chain management, financial management, review and other duties as delegated by the Accounting Officer to the Chief Financial Officer.

The Department: Finance is required to ensure adherence to all regulations regarding financial management and establish internal controls for financial management. All municipal officials also have the responsibility to ensure that the financial management and internal controls established for the municipality is carried out diligently.

The purpose of this component is “To manage financial matters” and the functions are as follows:

• Manage municipal budget and financial reporting;

• Manage municipal assets, and insurance services;

• Manage expenditure services;

• Render supply chain management services; and

• Render revenue, credit control and cash management services

The existence of this department is mandated by various pieces of legislation that includes the Municipal Staff Regulations promulgated September 2021, Spatial Planning Land Use Management Act, 2013 and the Property Rates Act, 2004. In terms of Regulation 5 of the Municipal Staff Regulations, a municipality may within its administrative and financial capacity establish separate departments, including the department for Development and Town Planning, amongst others. Section 21 of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act compels each Municipal Council to adopt a municipal spatial development framework and the framework must:

• Include a written and spatial representation of a five-year spatial development for spatial form of the municipality;

• Include long term spatial development vision statement which indicates a desired spatial growth and development pattern for the next 10 to 20 years;

• Include estimates of the demand for housing units across different socio-economic categories and the panned location and density of future housing development;

• Identify  current and future significant structuring and restructuring elements of the spatial form of municipality, including development corridors, activity spines and economic nodes where public and private investment will be prioritized and facilitated; and

• Identify, quantify and provide location requirements of engineering infrastructure and service provisions for existing and future development needs. 

Property Rates Act regulates the power of a municipality to impose rates on property and to certain properties from rating in the national interest.

The purpose of the component is “To coordinate municipal planning and economic development” and the functions are as follows:

• Manage integrated development plan

• Render spatial planning and land use management services;

• Render sustainable and integrated human settlements planning and property management; and

• Promote local economic development services.

The Department of Technical Services is crucial to the achievement of the strategic objective of the municipality, which is to provide sustainable and reliable services to communities. The department is responsible for water supply, sanitation services, municipal roads maintenance, electricity, plant and revenue protection services..

The purpose of the Department is “To manage technical services” and the functions are as follows:

• Render revenue protection services;

• Manage municipal infrastructure development programmes;

• Manage roads and storm water  services;

• Manage water and sanitation services; and

• Render electricity services.