Volume 5, Issue 1, February 2003

Citizen's Access to Information: The Information Manual

The Bill of Rights provides that any person has the right of access to any information held by the state. This includes information held by a municipality. The Constitution further provides that national legislation must be enacted to give effect to this right. This prompted the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2002.

From SALGA: Taking the Bull by its Horns

Key local government leaders from across the country gathered at SALGA's National General Council in November 2002 to consider critical issues currently facing the sector. The resolution that emerged will set the pace of local government transformation for many years and a brief synopsis of some of them follows.

From the Courts: Licence to Trade: Who decides?

Six informal beach traders made an urgent review application to the Cape High Court in December 2002 against the City of Cape Town after their applications for trading permits for 2002/03 were unsuccessful.

Getting Municipalities Out of the Red

More than a thousands delegates comprising municipal political office bearers and officials, local government MEC's provincial local government heads of department, national politicians and officials and organised local government attended a two-day Municipal Viability indaba at the Sandton Convention Centre on 5 and 6 December 2002.

The 'Big Four' Functions: Finality on SIght

On 3 June 2003, Minister Sydney Mufamadi published a notice for all nine provinces which revokes authorisation in terms of section 84 (3) of the Municipal Structures Act. These authorisations deal with four important district municipal functions, namely,the bulk supply of water, electricity and sewage purification works and municipal health services.

Traditional Leadership and Governance : Draft White Paper

The Traditional Leadership and Governance White Paper was launched by the Department of Provincial and Local Government on 29 April 2002. Provision was made for a consultation process, which was originally envisaged to have been completed by 22 November 2002 but which was extended to 15 January 2003.