Powers and functions of ward councillors

WARD councillors are elected chairpersons of ward committees, which comprise up to 10 members, accurately reflecting an area’s registered community-based organisations.

Ward committees also consist of people from ratepayers’ and civic organisations, faith-based organisations, safety and security groups, environmental groups, early education, youth organisations, arts and culture, sport groups, the business sector and designated vulnerable groups such as the aged, women and the disabled.

A proportional representation councillor allocated to a ward committee and a junior city councillor are ex-officio non-voting members.

All committee members must regularly consult their sectors and advise the ward councillor on needs and priorities, including the budget, and make recommendations to the sub-council or other committees of the City of Cape Town’s council.

Although ward committees have no powers, they are the most direct link between a community and the structures of the city’s council.

They must meet at least quarterly and members receive an allowance for out-of-pocket expenses to carry out their duties.

Cape Town is divided into 111 geographic areas, called wards, to effectively manage service delivery to the whole city. Wards are represented by ward councillors elected by registered voters in the community.

The ward councillor must look after the interests of all residents in the community, regardless of the political party they support or even if they did not vote or are not South African citizens. The ward councillor is advised by the ward committee.