Municipal Structure

POLITICAL STRUCTURES

Overberg District Municipality is established in terms of Section 12 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act, Act 117 of 1998 (Municipal Structures Act), as a Municipality with a Mayoral Executive System. The Municipality has the following political structures:

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

The Municipal Council is comprised of twenty-three (23) Councillors, thirteen (13) of whom are Local Municipal Representation Councillors and ten (10) of whom are Proportional Representation (PR) Councillors. The Municipal Council is led by the Democratic Alliance as the governing party.

OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER

The Speaker is the Chairperson of the Municipal Council and performs his functions in terms of a framework of powers assigned by legislation and powers delegated by the Municipal Council in terms of the Municipal Systems Act.

THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR AND EXECUTIVE MAYORAL COMMITTEE

The Executive Mayor is at the centre of the governance system and is responsible for providing political and strategic leadership. Executive power is vested in the Executive Mayor, in accordance with a framework of powers assigned by legislation as well as powers delegated by the Municipal Council in terms of Section 59 of the Municipal Systems Act. In order to maximise operational efficiency, the Municipal Council has delegated all powers except those which it is may not delegate by law to the Executive Mayor. The Executive Mayoral Committee is chaired by the Executive Mayor and comprises the Deputy Mayor and one full time Councillor.

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEES

Portfolio Committees are appointed in terms of section 80 of the Municipal Structures Act. There are four (4) Portfolio Committees, namely Strategic Services, Finance, Community Services and Corporate Services.

THE ADMINISTRATION

The Overberg District Municipality currently has an Office of the Municipal Manager and three Directorates, namely Finance, Community Services and Corporate Services.

COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURES

The Constitution requires the Municipality to encourage the participation of community members and community organisations in the matters of local government. The Community play an integral role in municipal processes and decision making and our challenge is to find the most effective method of implementing two way communication and interaction.