Councillor – induction program

The participant will gain a thorough understanding of:

1. Policy and legal framework guiding local government
2. Co-operative governance: The importance of national and provincial processes for municipalities
3. Roles and responsibilities of councillors.
4. Key municipal processes
5. Municipal integrated development planning
6. Municipal budgeting and financial management
7. Performance management
8. Public participation and citizen involvement .
9. Personal and leadership skills 
10. Meeting procedures

Local government is regarded as the sphere of government ‘closest to the people’ and municipalities are at the coalface of deepening democracy and accelerating the delivery of services.

The local government elections are an important milestone as South Africans went to the polls within the new framework of democratic local govenment, to elect their municipal representatives. This juncture provides an excellent opportunity for the newly elected councillors to fulfill their mandates to the best of their abilities and to deliver quality services and promote development to improve the lives of all South Africans.

The building of capacity and extension of expertise of the new cadre of municipal councillors is at the core of SALGA’s Skills Development and Capacity Building Inititiative. This Handbook for Municipal Councillors is part of this overall programme.
The objective of the Handbook is twofold:

• Providing an induction programme for newly elected municipal councillors through addressing the key areas of expertise and values that they will be expected to display while conducting their mandate and responsibilities; and
• Acting as a very practical resource document that highlights important policies and legislation, systems and processes relevant to their day to day work as councillors.