LOCAL GOVERNMENT: INPUT SOUGHT ON DA’s LATEST DRAFT MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES BILL

LOCAL GOVERNMENT: INPUT SOUGHT ON DA’s LATEST DRAFT MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES BILL

• 24 January 2025
• Local & Provincial Government
• SA Legal Academy

A draft Municipal Structures Amendment Bill has been gazetted for input by 23 February 2025. Prepared on behalf of Democratic Alliance (DA) MP George Michalakis, it was published with a notice also serving as the procedurally required pre-tabling explanatory summary. The proposed new Bill should not be confused with one released in May 2024 for public comment and prepared by the Department of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs.

Informed by legislation with the same title tabled in April 2024 by the DA’s then chief whip, Siviwe Gwarube, and allowed to lapse when Parliament rose for the May 2024 elections, the draft Bill seeks to:

• introduce electoral thresholds with the aim of curbing the destabilising ‘kingmaker’ practice now rife in coalition government at local level, and
• extend the period within which the first meeting of a newly elected council should be called.

According to the draft Bill’s memorandum of objects, this would allow parties more time to engage and negotiate the appointment of executive positions in a council, including those of whip and speaker – in turn contributing to more stable coalitions.

• draft Bill
• SA Legal Academy report on the May 2024 draft Bill

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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