The System of Delegations is the City of Cape Town's rulebook on who may make which decisions. To reduce the demand on Council, some decision-making authority is delegated to other municipal structures through this System. The legal basis is section 59 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act. The City says the system aims to maximise administrative and operational efficiency, and it sets checks and balances. Examples are that sub-delegations must be in writing and that officials shall not unreasonably refuse to exercise delegated powers. Powers that the law reserves to Council, such as passing by-laws, cannot be delegated.
The document is long. It sets out delegations to the Executive Mayor, the Speaker, the Chief Whip, the City Manager and officials. It also sets out the terms of reference of Section 79 portfolio committees, which include the Urban Waste Management Committee and the Water and Sanitation Committee. These committees are established under the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998. It also covers administrative bodies such as the Supply Chain Management Bid Adjudication Committee, which has appeared in earlier versions. Because the document is organised in numbered parts, errors in page order or an omitted part can change which body holds a power.
The system is revised regularly. Council adopted a version in November 2021 (resolution C11/11/21), and later versions followed, including a 2024 version. The City's website lists an updated version dated 10 November 2025. The current text and its historical versions are on the City's website. For residents, the system decides who is accountable for areas such as waste services and procurement. That is why amendments and objections from opposition parties matter.
