THE role of the Speaker in local government is a relatively new one, created in 2000 to reflect municipal councils’ autonomous status in a democratically elected government.

As the chairperson of the City council, the Speaker is the promoter and protector of democracy, facilitating debate and arrival at consensus within the Standing Rules of Council and ensuring ethical conduct by councillors.

Following the high-level restructuring of the City in July 2006, which separated the executive and legislative roles of the mayoral committee and the council, the Speaker is also the head of the legislative arm of the council.

The Speaker is guided by several overarching objectives, including good governance, service delivery excellence and Batho Pele (People First).

Section 59 of the Municipal Systems Act defines the roles and power of the Speaker.

Delegated roles are carried out through the three departments in the Office of the Speaker:

• Community participation department
• Councillor affairs department
• Council and committees department

Legislative functions
The Speaker presides at the monthly meetings of the council, maintaining order, ensuring compliance in the council and council committees with the Code of Conduct and ensuring that council meetings adhere to the rules and orders of the council.The Speaker must also ensure that the council meets at least on a quarterly basis.