By-laws are laws that are adopted by the council of a municipality to regulate the affairs and the services within the jurisdiction of the municipality. A municipality derives the power to adopt a by-law from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
Specified powers and competencies are also given to municipalities as set out in Part B of Schedule 4 and Part B of Schedule 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. In this respect by-laws ensure that the community is protected and functions effectively.
