Municipalities of South Africa

Local government in South Africa consists of municipalities (Tswana: bommasepala; Sotho: bomasepala; Northern Sotho: bommasepala; Afrikaans: munisipaliteite; Zulu: ngomasipala; Southern Ndebele: bomasipala; Xhosa: ngoomasipala; Swazi: bomasipala; Venda: vhomasipala; Tsonga: vamasipala) of various types.

Metropolitan (or category A) municipalities govern large densely urbanised regions that encompass multiple centers with close economic linkages, i.e. metropolises.

In rural areas South African municipalities are generally in a poor and deteriorating financial state,[4] a situation which affects business activity and risks, livelihoods and growth propects of the economy.

Discontent often revolves around the demand for housing and free basic services, especially when community members are displaced or suffer the loss of income.

Other causes are perceived councillor accountability, the quality or pace of basic service delivery (housing, water and electricity),[7] misappropriation of COVID-19 relief benefits and land invasions.

[6] Protestors sometimes confuse issues relating to land demarcation, political candidates, or employer disputes with local government's service delivery mandate.

[6][7] Some of South Africa's municipalities are drowning in debt due to corruption and lack of skills,[8] and by 2020 a significant proportion found themselves financially and logistically stressed by the pandemic.

[10] The late Kimi Makwetu suggested holding employees individually accountable, treating recommendations as binding and issuing a certificate of debt to guilty parties.

A 2018 High Court judgment allowed Eskom to seize R645 million worth of Emfuleni's fixed assets due to non-payment for electricity.