Local municipalities are the tier of local government that serves most of South Africa outside the eight metros. They sit under a district municipality, and the two share responsibility for services in ways that affect who you contact.
Finding your local municipality’s contact details
The municipality that issues your account is your local municipality, and its name is printed on the statement. That is the most reliable starting point, since municipal boundaries do not always match the town name people use.
We publish contact pages for individual municipalities as they are verified against each municipality’s own official website. Browse the municipality contact details South Africa page for those currently available, or use the provincial pages below.
Local, district and metro
| Metropolitan municipality | A single authority running all municipal services for a large urban area, with no district tier above it. There are eight. |
| District municipality | Covers a larger region made up of several local municipalities, and shares service responsibilities with them. |
| Local municipality | Serves a town or group of towns within a district, and handles most day-to-day municipal services there. |
Why the split matters
In a metro, one municipality handles water, electricity, refuse and rates. Outside a metro, responsibilities are divided between the district and the local municipality, and the division is not the same everywhere. Water services in particular may sit with the district in one area and the local municipality in another.
The practical consequence is that you cannot assume the local municipality handles everything. If a service query is bounced, ask explicitly which authority is the service authority for that function in your area.
Electricity is a separate question again
Outside the metros, Eskom supplies electricity directly to a large share of customers. Check the supplier named on your bill or prepaid receipt before reporting a power fault to the municipality, since Eskom and municipalities run separate networks.
Escalating a complaint
Log the issue with the municipality first and keep the reference number. If it is not resolved, unresolved maladministration complaints can go to the Public Protector on 0800 112 040 or [email protected], and municipal governance concerns to your Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance.
Related pages
- District municipality contact details
- Metropolitan municipality contact details
- Provincial and local government directory
- Municipality contact details South Africa
FAQs
- How do I know which local municipality serves me? It is the municipality named on your municipal account.
- Does the local or district municipality handle water? It varies by area. Ask which authority is the service authority for water where you live.
- Who supplies electricity outside the metros? Often Eskom directly. Check the supplier named on your bill.