With the 2016 local elections fast approaching, the attention of political parties will turn to the third sphere of government, namely local government. Experience teaches us that when this vital mechanism for the delivery of services – and the space for citizens to engage most directly with government – takes a back seat to the national and provincial spheres, problems start to occur. If municipalities are seen as the ‘poor relations’ of the other two tiers, they soon become unable to provide their constitutionally mandated services, and they lose viability. If this occurs, as it has in many parts of the country, then an intervention is required to guide the municipality back onto the correct path.

The Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) hosted a roundtable discussion on Municipal Viability and Interventions on 4th September 2015. The practical information brought across by the speakers lays the foundation for this paper, as we heard the views of government, through Mr Mandla Nkomfe, advisor to the Minister of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (CoGTA); of the official opposition, from Mr Kevin Mileham (DA shadow Minister of CoGTA); and a practical view from the manager of the Drakenstein Municipality, Mr Johann Mettler.

The purpose of this essay is to combine some of the legal aspects of the matter with the practical issues and points that were raised at the roundtable discussion. This should show us where we should be, where we actually are, and how we can intervene to improve the state of local government.