The purpose of a ward committee is:

• to get better participation from the community to inform Council decisions;
• to make sure that there is more effective communication between the Council and the community; and
• to assist the ward councillor with consultation and report-backs to the community.

The 6 wards of Karoo Hoogland Municipality are as follows:

• Ward 1 – A part of Williston
• Ward 2 – Fraserburg
• Ward 3 – Rural Surrounding Areas of the towns
• Ward 4 – Sutherland
• Ward 5 – A part of Williston
• Ward 6 – Rural Surrounding Areas and a part of Sutherland

The Municipal Council of Karoo Hoogland now consists of 11 members. Six (6) represent wards and five (5) are proportional representatives of political parties.

IN TERMS OF SECTION 9(b) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT: MUNICIPAL STRUCTURES ACT (NO. 117 OF 1998) KHM IS NOW A CATEGORY B MUNICIPALITY WITH A COLLECTIVE EXECUTIVE SYSTEM COMBINED WITH A WARD PARTICIPATORY SYSTEM.

Ward Committees/Forums (Municipal Structures Act No. 117 of 1998): WHAT ARE WARD COMMITTEES/FORUMS?

Ward committees/Forums are committees established for each municipal ward to broaden community participation at local government level. Community participation in the municipality must take place through structures such as ward committees established in terms of the Municipal Structures Act.

Composition of Ward Committees/Forums

The ward committee/forums shall consist of the Councillor representing that particular ward in the municipal Council and not more than 10 other elected persons representing various groups within the local community.

The ward Councillor is a member of his/her ward committee/forum and is also the chairperson of the ward committee/forum. The ward committee/forum should have a diverse representation as possible to ensure that all interested groups are presented including women.

Functions and Powers of the ward committee/forum

Ward committees/forums may make recommendations on any matters affecting its ward to the ward Councillor or to the Council or mayor through that particular ward Councillor. Ward committees/forums may perform any duties, which have been delegated to it by the local Council.

Term of office of the member

Members representing various groups within the local community in the ward committee/forum are elected for a term determined by the local Council.
The ward Councillor remains the member of the ward committee/forum for a period ending when the next Councillor for the ward is declared elected.