Our team has extensive experience in the local government sphere, advising both local government and private sector clients on the various requirements that apply in this specialised area.
We regularly advise on all aspects of local government law, including the constitutional provisions that regulate local government, the Municipal Systems Act, the Municipal Structures Act, the Municipal Finance Management Act, the Municipal Property Rates Act and municipal bylaws.
We have advised on a number of major municipal projects, including large-scale municipal landfill gas projects, the establishment of integrated rapid public transport networks in various metropolitan areas, and the acquisition of land for major housing developments.
Our areas of expertise include: advising on municipal finance, including fruitless and wasteful expenditure; processes for contracts with future budgetary implications; asset transfers; land use planning; procurement and service delivery, including external service provision agreements; municipal public-private partnerships; the assignment of functions to municipalities; municipal entities; municipal rates and valuations; electricity reticulation tariffs; municipal powers and intergovernmental relations; administrative law; expropriations, co-operative governance processes; streaming of functions; and appeals in terms of the Municipal Systems Act.
We also regularly act for municipalities and private clients in either defending or challenging municipal decision-making in court review proceedings.
