The Transvaal's Experiment in Local Government
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.1962.tb01112.x |
| Date | 01 March 1962 |
| Author | E. F. W. Gey Pittius |
| Published date | 01 March 1962 |
The Transvaal's Experiment in
Local
Government
E
.1:
.\I'
.G
EY
VAN
P
IT
T
I U
S
Professor
Gty
van Pittius is Head
of
lhe
Department oJ'Politica1 Science
in the University
of
Pretoria
Geographically, South Africa is divided into four Provinces (or regions)
-
the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The voters
of
each
Province elect
a
Provincial Council, which is empowered by the Constitu-
tion to establish and to control local government institutions. The head
of
the Province is the Administrator, who
is
appointed by the central
government. He is also chairman
of
the Executive Committee, which
is
elected by the provincial councillors by means of proportional representa-
tion. By-laws made by Town Councils require the assent
of
the
Administrator.
Until recently the same type of municipal government obtained in all
four Provinces. For election
of
couricillors, towns or cities were divided
into wards, three members being elected by each and one retiring every
year. The Councils
so
constituted elected a mayor annually, but he was
(and still is) merely
prirnus inter pares.
In the same way standing committees
were elected and every councillor had to serve on at least one committee.
These committees had
to
report back to the Council and their recom-
mendations required its approval.
For administrative purposes, the various undertakings of the Council
(or municipality) were (and still are) assigned to several departments and
the supervision
of
the Council was done through its various committees.
Of all the municipal officials, the Town Clerk could play the most
important roll. Through the years his position has been constantly strength-
ened and in some cases he has been designated the chief administrative
and/or executive officer
of
the Council.
Now
the recent changes in the Transvaal can be discussed.
F.
L
E
Cl
0
R
A
L
CHANGES
In
1950
the system, whereby three councillors were elected for three years
for each ward and one-third had to retire every year, was changed in
the Transvaal. Single-member wards were introduced instead, all the
councillors had
to
retire simultaneously and a 'general election' of coun-
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