Inside the Mayor, Town Clerk divide in local councils

Last week, Katjiontjwa declared the mayor’s decision to adjourn the full council meeting for 14 days as “unlawful”, saying it was made without consulting councillors and without the required two-thirds majority vote as prescribed by the Local Government Act. The Town Clerk then directed that council business resume immediately. But looking back, conflicts between mayors or chairpersons and town clerks or council secretaries are not uncommon in local authorities. While such disputes are often attributed to individuals overstepping their mandates, the roles and responsibilities of each office are clearly defined under the Local Government Act (2012).

“Where both the Mayor or Chairperson and the Deputy Mayor or Deputy Chairperson are absent from, or during, any meeting, the members of the Council or Subordinate Authority present shall elect one from amongst themselves to chair the meeting,” the Local Government Act (2012) states.