The Municipal Systems Act - Part 5

As indicated previously (see http://thecourier-diekoerier.blogspot.com/2011/09/municipal-systems-act-part-4.html) The Courier/Die Koerier will post excerpts from a summary of the Municipal Systems Act over the next few weeks. Here is Part 5, which deals with the duties of municipal administrators, i.e. officials.

Municipal administrations have a number of duties towards local communities, including:

• being responsive to the needs of the local community;
• establishing clear channels of communication with the local community;
• informing the local community about the services which they are entitled to receive; and
• informing the local community how the municipality is managed, what it spends its money on, and who is in charge.

Municipal administrations also have the duties of facilitating a culture of public service and accountability amongst staff, and taking measures to prevent corruption. The organisation of municipal administrations is discussed later in this booklet.