Makhanselara a Masepala

This guide, published by the Public Affairs Research Institute, explains the role, election process, legal duties, and ethical requirements of municipal councillors in South Africa. It outlines the differences between ward and proportional representation councillors and provides a framework for how councillors and citizens can collaborate to improve local governance and accountability.

• Municipal councillors are elected every five years to represent community interests in the municipal council, where they pass laws, plans, and programs, and oversee municipal services.
• There are two types of councillors: ward councillors, who are directly elected by residents of a specific ward to represent that area regardless of political affiliation, and proportional representation (PR) councillors, who are appointed by political parties based on the party's overall share of the vote.
• To qualify as a candidate for councillor, an individual must be a South African citizen with a legal ID, register with the IEC before the deadline, obtain signatures from 50 eligible voters in the municipality, and pay a deposit. Individuals imprisoned for more than 12 consecutive months without an option of a fine are ineligible for five years from the date of conviction.
• The legal duties of a councillor include consulting with the local community on needs and service delivery, representing community views in council discussions, informing the public about decisions, and monitoring the use of municipal funds.
• Councillors possess the power to propose municipal laws, vote on budgets and Integrated Development Plans (IDP), and hold the municipal administration accountable. They enjoy freedom of speech in council meetings, meaning they cannot be prosecuted for defamation for information disclosed during these meetings, even if obtained illegally.
• The Code of Conduct for Councillors mandates that they act with honesty and transparency, report to their community at least four times a year, and disclose all financial interests (including assets and pensions) to the municipal manager within 60 days of election.
• Councillors are prohibited from participating in meetings where they have a conflict of interest, holding outside employment without council permission, missing three or more council or committee meetings, or receiving benefits from companies providing services to the municipality.
• Collaboration between councillors and the community can be achieved through public council meetings, ward committees, social media, and joint projects with NGOs and community leaders to address urgent needs like cleaning dumps or improving service networks.

APA

Public Affairs Research Institute (n.d.). Makhanselara a Masepala. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/COMPACT-Municipal-Councillors-Sesotho.pdf

Chicago

Public Affairs Research Institute. Makhanselara a Masepala. n.d. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/COMPACT-Municipal-Councillors-Sesotho.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Public Affairs Research Institute |title=Makhanselara a Masepala |url=https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/COMPACT-Municipal-Councillors-Sesotho.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{publicaffairsresearchinstitutendmakhanselara, author = {{Public Affairs Research Institute}}, title = {{Makhanselara a Masepala}}, institution = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, url = {https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/COMPACT-Municipal-Councillors-Sesotho.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }