Toolkit on Powers and Responsibilities of Local Government

According to the South African Constitution, different levels of government are responsible for particular functions. The way these functions are carried out and which ones local government is responsible for are dealt with in Schedules 4B and 5B of the Constitution.

To varying degrees, local government is responsible for the functions listed in the table below. Local governments are given functions and powers in two ways: assignment and delegation. Assignment means complete authority over a function is transferred to local governments. This can happen as a “general assignment,” where a function is given to all local governments in the country or as a “specific assignment", where a function is given only to specific municipalities.

Delegation means that the responsibility to provide a particular function is transferred to local governments, but authority over that function is still held by a different level of government, for example national or provincial government.

Also, certain responsibilities such as policy making, legislation, and the regulation and distribution of funds, always remain within the authority of the national and provincial governments despite what functions may have been given to local governments.

For more information please feel free to download the full toolkit which can be found below.

Download Toolkit on Powers of Local Government PDF

Toolkit on Local Govt Budgets

Most government budgets present a range of large figures. Because programmes, departments and municipalities differ in size, one cannot compare the amounts with one another right away. Also, each year, reduces the buying power of the rand – which again means it is not possible to compare year-on-year figures right away. So, to understand the budget better, it is often necessary to do some basic calculations. These might look intimidating at first – especially because the numbers involved are generally large. But even the most mathematically- challenged should be able to master them, if they are followed step-by-step.

In this toolkit, we outline six calculation tools that may be used to analyse budget figures, depending on the kind of information you need

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Reporting on Opinion Surveys

A government budget is a public document that outlines how a government proposes to collect and spend money. Budget analysis quite simply tells us how much money there is, where it comes from, and what it is spent on. A budget is more than just a technical document. Instead it reveals government’s strategic choices and decisions, and is thus an important political tool. In a democratic society, citizens give the government a mandate via their votes and politicians are obliged to translate that mandate into policies and plans. These policies and plans should be reflected in the budget – it is no use having plans if money has not been budgeted to implement them.  It is important for journalists to cover government budgets because in the budget, in outlining its plans for raising and spending money, a government is explaining how it intends using money that belongs to the public. In order to hold government accountable and make informed electoral choices, citizens need to engage with the budget. Budgets, and citizens’ interest in budgets and their implementation, are crucial to the practice of democracy.

This toolkit is the first one of a set of three, to help you to understand, analyse, and report on local government budgets.

Download Toolkit on Reporting on Opinion Surveys PDF

Using the Access to Information law

Use the Access to Information law to get the stories that will get you noticed!

The Provision of Access to Information Act (PAIA) gives you the right to access any records held by the state. It also gives you the right to any records held by a private body, if these are needed in order to exercise or protect any rights.

Download Toolkit on ODAC Info Sheet PDF