Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
STATEMENT
Gauteng Local Government and Housing Minister Mr. Dan Mofokeng would like to issue a statement on the election of Mayors and Executive Committee Members in the Province.
A circular has been sent to local authorities in which they are being advised that the elections of mayors and members of executive committees can now be effected. This follows another circular sent last Friday in which the elections of mayors was to be suspended pending a decision from the provincial cabinet meeting last Wednesday on the matter.
The circular sent this morning clearly spells out that mayors and not their deputies should be elected. "The position of deputy mayors is still the subject of discussion in the cabinet, because the process of apportioning powers and duties has not been finalised," says Mr Mofokeng. This means that the process of devolving powers and duties to the various levels (Metropolitan to Substructure or vice-verse) may influence the offices of deputy mayors. The proper balance of powers and responsibilities between metropolitan councils and substructures is presently under consideration by the Gauteng Government.
Meanwhile local authorities have also been given permission to elect members of executive committees this morning. The Province has suggested a set of guidelines to be followed when electing executive members and these include:
- The composition Executive committees should reflect the preference of voters and demonstrated by the number of votes cast for each party/candidate that participated in the municipal elections.
- Each candidate/party who had twenty percent or more of the total number of votes cast in a transitional authority shall at least be entitled to one (1) seat in the executive committee.
The number of members of executive committee shall not exceed ten (10). This is in line with Section 52(1) of the Local Government Ordinance (Administration and Elections), 1960 (Ordinance number 40 of 1960).
The following is the recommended number of members of executive committees in various councils:
Members of Council Members of Executive Committees 0-10 4 20-40 6 40-60 8 60 and above 10
Issued by the Media Liaison Unit Gauteng Local Government and Housing Ministry P.O. Box 4414 Johannesburg 2000
For more information contact Thabang Mamonyane 082 550 0593