21 November, 2002

Press Release

"Help us make your own by-laws" Joburg

A draft revised set of by-laws for the City of Johannesburg today took a step further when the Council Meeting approved a proposed set, putting in motion the public participation process on the by-laws.

For the past 10 months the city has compiled a uniform set of draft by-laws. This will replace the by-laws of the erstwhile 12 local authorities that now constitute the City of Johannesburg Municipality.

Using the best legal minds in the country, involving various drafts that were scrutinised by the Council, today's approval confirms that the process is now approaching finalisation. It is anticipated that from the middle of December until 14 February, residents of the city will be able to make inputs on the laws through submissions and public hearings before the by-laws are put into effect.

The by-laws are covering most of the important aspects of local government as stipulated in the Constitution including amongst others, water services, waste management, public roads, open spaces, street trading, public health, emergency services and culture and recreation services.

The draft by-laws will be available on the Council's official website (www.joburg.org.za) and the city's People's Centres in all 11 regions of the city and once the process of public participation is in place details in this regard will be advertised in the press.

ENDS.

For more information contact:
Mbangwa Xaba
Media Liaison
Tel: 407 7226
Fax: 403 3494
082 467 9230
mbangwax@joburg.org.za