Municipalities in South Africa are a division of local government that lie one level down from provincial government, and form the lowest level of democratically elected government structures in the country. The foundation for this layer of government is set out in the Constitution of South Africa (in Chapter 7), but separate acts of parliament have defined the municipal structures since the inception of the current constitution. Local governments are administrative offices of an area smaller than a state. ... A map of the nine provinces of South Africa South Africa is currently divided into nine provinces. ... The current and official Constitution of South Africa was adopted on 8 May 1996. ...

Categories of municipalities

Municipalities can belong to one of three categories: metropolitan, district and local (referred to in the constitution as categories A, B and C).

Metropolitan municipalities

Metropolitan (or "category A") municipalities are large regions, with their own local government structures, and which usually encompass some urbanised region (or regions), which might be regarded as a city. Local governments are administrative offices of an area smaller than a state. ... Sydney, Australia at Night. ...

For example, the Ethekwini municipality contains the city of Durban. In another example, the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, is actually made up of three municipalities, the Johannesburg metropolitan, the Ekurhuleni metropolitan, and the West Rand district. There are six metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. Ethekwini means At the Harbour in the Zulu language. ... Central area of Durban Durban is a city in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa (29°53′S 31°03′E). ... The Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area is the official name of the area surrounding the city of Johannesburg, in South Africa. ... Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is a Metropolitan Municipality that forms the local government of the East Rand region of Gauteng, South Africa. ... A map of the West Rand. ...

District and local municipalities

District (or "category C") municipalities are municipalities which can contain other municipalities. Local (or "category B") municipalities are municipalities found within district municipalities. Local municipalities share authority with the district municipality in which they fall.

For example, the Msunduzi local municipality, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, is contained within the district municipality of uMgungundlovu. KwaZulu-Natal (often referred to as KZN) is a province of South Africa. ...

Legislation concerning Municipalities

Apart from Chapter 7 of the South African Constitution the South African Parliament has passed several pieces of legislation to deal specifically with local government in South Africa. The following Acts of Parliament deal specifically with Municipal Structures: The Parliament of South Africa, has undergone many transformations, as a result of the countrys tumultuous history. ... It has been suggested that Statutory law be merged into this article or section. ... Local governments are administrative offices of an area smaller than a state. ... In Westminster System parliaments, an Act of Parliament is a part of the law passed by the Parliament. ...

1. Local Government: Municipal Systems Act(Original Act)
2. Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Act
3. Redetermination of the Boundaries of Cross-Boundary Municipalities Act

Name Changes with regard to Municipalities and Cities South Africa

The South African Geographical Names Council is a statutory body that deals specifically with changing names of places in South Africa, including municipalities. The South African Geographical Names Council is the official government body of South Africa that advises the executive branch of the central government (in the form of the Minister of Arts and Culture) on new geographical names as well as the changing of existing geographical names. ...

External links

• Municipal Demarcations Board of South Africa
• South African Local Government Association Home Page
• Chapter 7 of the Constitution of South Africa This chapter describes the municipal government structure in the country.