Implementing the Municipal Systems Amendment Act

Abstract

The Municipal Systems Amendment Act was signed into law by the President on 5 July 2011 and is set to have a major impact on municipal governance. Regulations to give further substance to the Act are on their way. The first questions about the interpretation of the Act are already emerging, and this article aims to give guidance on some of the more difficult areas. It does not provide a summary of the Act, but rather deals with certain matters of implementation. It is important to note that the changes contained in the Systems Amendment Act do not affect contracts concluded before the Act came into operation.