Powers and Functions
The Municipal Structures Act of 1998 made provision for the division of powers and functions between district
and local municipalities. It assigned district wide functions to district municipalities and most day to day
service delivery functions to local municipalities. The provincial MECs were empowered to adjust these powers
and functions according to the capacity of municipalities to deliver services.
With regard to the above statement, the function of Water and Sanitation as well as the maintenance of water
infrastructure is still the function of the district. Whilst the Municipality is responsible for Planning,
it is also reliant on the District for advice and support. Umzumbe Municipality has entered into shared service
with the district (Ugu) in a number of functions including the GIS implementation, Developmental, Disaster
Management as well as Environmental issues, Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and Internal Audit Committee
that deals with finance and performance management system of both municipalities.
The shared service with regard to the Disaster Management issue involves Umdoni and Vulamehlo Municipalities
which are the municipalities that are surrounding Umzumbe Municipality. Umzumbe Municipality has developed its
Disaster Management Plan as a critical sector plan that will inform planning and management of disaster within
the Municipality.
The existing backlog in terms of water and sanitation within Umzumbe requires urgent intervention that will
speed up the service delivery on water and sanitation.
Hence, the municipality has entered into a three year shared service agreement with the district.
It is envisaged that after three years the municipality would be having enough capacity to implement
its MIG programmes. As an intervention to this, the municipality has already increased personnel in the
Technical Services Department.
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