QUESTION OF THE DAY
As the council elections draw nearer the musical dance is slowly but surely gaining momentum to grab the last chair and take the seat. There is much talk about who and how to occupy the seat but little on the nature and characteristics of the councils to be inherited.
Even though the Constitution provides in section 193 that local government authorities shall have a high degree of autonomy, the Local Government Act which should guide the objectives, strategies, plans and activities of councils, has undergone many provisions which subject the councils to the control of the executive.
The question arises: Will the elections proceed in April without an amendment of the Local Government Act to make it consistent with the Constitution? Only time will tell.
