A Municipal Manager (MM) is the administrative head and Accounting Officer of a municipality, forming the critical link between the elected council and the administrative arm. The MM drives the Integrated Development Plan, manages municipal services, oversees financial management, and ensures compliance with legislation. Typically, MM’s will have Directors of key service nodes and a Chief Financial Officer reporting to them.
The MM’s role and accountability are primarily defined by the Municipal Systems Act (No. 32 of 2000) which outlines the administrative duties, staffing, and community participation. The Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) (No. 56 of 2003) establishes the MM as the accounting officer responsible for all financial matters and the Constitution (1996), and sets the overarching mandate for local government to be developmental and accountable.
The core areas of accountability are:
- Financial Management: Personally accountable for all income, expenditure, assets, and liabilities. The MM must prevent unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
- Administrative Oversight: Manages the municipality’s staff, maintains discipline, and ensures compliance with labour laws.
- Implementation: Responsible for executing the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and municipal by-laws.
- Political Linkage: Serves as the bridge between the political structures (Council and Mayor) and the administration.
The following mechanisms of accountability are in place:
- The MM is answerable to the Municipal Council for the overall performance of the administration.
- Must provide mechanisms for community participation, with the MM facilitating this process.
- Audit and oversight, where the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) audits financial statements. Under the Audit Amendment Act (2018), the Auditor-General can issue a “certificate of debt”, making the MM personally liable for financial losses resulting from failure to implement remedial actions.
A municipality’s council ultimately defines their expectations of the MM, providing the mandate to lead the municipality according to stated objectives.
It is an extensive portfolio and in the private sector, the position is equivalent to that of a Managing Director. As municipalities evolve, the MM is increasingly required to assimilate the traits of a CEO, with strategy and vision becoming key.
In an age where corruption, organised crime and nepotism plague the progress of municipalities, “courage” is a key MM trait. MM’s can also face pressurised interference from politicians who ignore the desired ‘separation of powers’ between the administrative and political arms of a municipality.
Being a Municipal Manager in South Africa is an extremely challenging, high-pressure, and demanding job. In David Joubert, Weskus has an accomplished professional with an exemplary track record evidenced by consistent clean audits, and a rating as South Africa’s 2025 best run municipality.
