Municipal Council

Karoo Hoogland’s Municipal Council consists of 11 councillors (6 ward and 5 proportional representatives (PR)). Therefore, according to Section 9(b) of the Amended Structures Act, since 1 November 2021, Karoo Hoogland Municipality has a Collective Executive system with a ward participatory system.

• Governs by making and administrating laws, raising taxes and taking decisions that affect people’s rights
• Tax authority that may raise property taxes and service levies
• Primary decision maker and takes all the decisions of the Municipality except those that are delegated to political structures, political once bearers, individual councillors or officials
• Delegate responsibilities and duties for the purposes of fast and effective decision making
• Strive towards the constitutional objects of local government
• Consult the community with respect to local government matters
• Only decision maker on non-delegated matters such as the approval of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget

The Mayor and Speaker are currently full-time Councillors of the Municipality.

Below is a table that categorises the councillors within their specific political parties and wards as at 3 June 2026:

1. The Municipality has all the powers assigned to it in terms of the Constitution as well as national and provincial legislation. The Municipality has the right to do anything reasonably necessary for or incidental to the effective exercise of its powers.
2. The executive and legislative authority of the Municipality vests in the Council. The Council takes all the decisions of the Municipality except-
   (a) Decisions on those matters that it has delegated to a delegated body
   (b) Decisions on those matters that by law have been assigned to a political structure, political office-bearer or employee of the council.
3. The Council may exercise executive and legislative authority within its Municipal area only. The Council may, by written agreement with another Municipality, exercise executive authority in the area of that other Municipality.
4. All the powers of the Municipality that have not been reserved for the Council, or that have not been delegated to a political structure, political office-bearer or employee of the council are delegated to the Executive Committee

EXCO

The composition of the Executive Committee of a municipal council is determined by a combination of factors, including the number of councillors, the parties and interests represented in the council, and any alternative mechanisms established by the council itself. The council must ensure that the committee’s membership is effective and efficient, with no more than 20% or 10 councillors, whichever is less. It also needs to proportionally represent the parties and interests represented in the council. An executive committee may not have less than three members.

An executive committee must be composed in such a way that parties and interests represented in the municipal council are represented in the executive committee in substantially the same proportion they are represented in the council.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. An Executive Committee is entitled to receive reports from the municipal committees and to forward these reports together with a recommendation to the council when the matter cannot be disposed of by the Executive Committee in terms of the Executive Committee’s delegated powers.
2. The Executive Committee must-
   2.1 identify the needs of the municipality;
   2.1 review and evaluate those needs in order of priority;
   2.3 recommend to the municipal council strategies, programmes and services to address priority needs through the integrated development plan, and the estimates of revenue and expenditure, taking into account any applicable national and provincial development plans; and
   2.4 Recommend or determine the best way, including partnership and other approaches, to deliver those strategies, programmes and services to the maximum benefit of the community.
3. The Executive Committee in performing the duties of office must-
   i. identify and develop criteria in terms of which progress in the implementation of the strategies, programmes and services referred to in subsection (2) (c) can be evaluated, including key performance indicators which are specific to the municipality and common to local government in general;
   ii. evaluate progress against the key performance indicators;
   iii. review the performance of the municipality in order to improve-
   a) the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the municipality;
   b) the efficiency of credit control and revenue and debt collection services; and
   c) the implementation of the municipality’s by-laws;
   iv. monitor the management of the municipality’s administration in accordance with the directions of the municipal council;
   v. oversee the provision of services to communities in the municipality in a sustainable manner;
   vi. annually report on the involvement of communities and community organisations in the affairs of the municipality; and
   vii. Ensure that regard is given to public views and report on the effect of consultation on the decisions of the council.
4. An Executive Committee must report to the municipal council on
   i. all decisions taken by the Executive Committee.
   ii. Powers delegated in terms of Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000;