An effective governance framework, systems, policies and structure is absolutely crucial to the proper functioning of the District Municipality such as Frances Baard. The quality of governance and transformation is one of the major determining factors in turning the District Municipality into a prosperous developmental government geared towards improving the quality of life of communities in its area of jurisdiction.

Good governance is a broad and multi-faceted concept that describes the processes through which the municipality sets priorities, takes decision, strengthen accountability and engage in constructive interaction with the public and other institutions.

All these processes are intended to enable the municipality to deliver value for money, improved quality of life and sustainable service delivery, ensure clean government, and deepen democracy. Practically, good governance entails a wide variety of approaches and interventions covering political governance, institutional transformation, relationship building, consultation, and participation.

The Executive Mayor heads the municipality and fulfills this governance task in collaboration with 24 elected councillors. Fourteen of these councillors represent the Category B Municipalities in the district and ten councillors were elected through proportional representation and one councillor represents the District Municipal Area.

The Mayor has executive powers and assumes overall strategic and political responsibility. The Executive Mayor appointed a Mayoral Committee that function in a manner similar to that of a local cabinet. The Executive Mayor therefore shares political responsibility with the councillors. The main function of the Mayoral Committee is to ensure integration of the work of the Council across political portfolios and departments.

The Council Speaker is a councillor, elected as chairperson of a municipal council, in terms of section 36 of the Municipal StructuresAct (Act no. 117 of 1998) and as envisaged in section 160(1)(b) of the Constitution. The Speaker’s primary responsibility is to preside over meetings of Council. The Speaker also oversees the effective functioning of the Council committee system. A related legislative function is to promote good conduct among elected Councillors through application of the Code of Conduct.

Furthermore the Speaker has been tasked with determining and arranging training for Councillors in order to develop Councillors governance capacity and improve the skill of individual Councillors. The Speaker works in close liaison with the Executive Mayor, who invites the Speaker to attend Mayoral Committee meetings as an observer and often request the Speaker to preside or represent the Executive Mayor at official functions.

The council structure is supported by a committee system. Section 33 of the Municipal Structures Act provides that a municipality may establish committees taking into account the extent of its functions and powers, the need for delegation and resources available. The functions of Section 79 committees are determined by the council and these committees are established specifically for the effective performance of the functions of the council. In this regard the Audit Committee and the Financial Management Grant Steering Committees have been established and are fully operational.

Council also has Section 80 committees from its members to assist the Executive Mayor. The Mayoral Committee consists of 5 members appointed by the Executive Mayor, and these members are the chairpersons of the various committees (Social Development, Infrastructure Development, Institutional Development, Economic Development and Policy and Legislation);

The committees of Council meet on a monthly basis and formulate recommendations based on their portfolios to the Mayoral Committee, which also meets on a monthly basis. In terms of the Delegation of Powers. The Mayoral Committee concludes matters delegated to it by Council and submit recommendations to Council on other matters. The system promotes thorough discussion on all matters and ensures that decision making in the municipality is streamlined and effective. Furthermore, this model ensures effective participation and input by stakeholders thus enhancing democracy, promotes consensus on developmental and strategic issues, creates transparency and accountability.

In order to meet our statutory obligation towards community participation in terms of Chapter 4 of the Municipal Systems Act. Act No. 32 of 2000, Council has adopted the "Council meets the People" programme.

Through this outreach programme, council has succeeded in reaching communities in Magareng, Phokwane, Dikgatlong and Sol Plaatje municipalities.