SBO Gutto LLB(Hons)(Nairobi) MALD(Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy – Tufts) Dip Human Rights(Strasbourg) PhD(Lund) Associate Professor of Law, University of the Witwatersrand

Local government in the past has traditionally been at the coalface of apartheid, immersed in the practices of upholding influx control and residential segregation. The historic elections of 1994 marked the arrival of democracy at national and provincial level. The local government elections heralded the birth of democracy at a local level.

Key benefits

• Practically illustrates to those involved in or coming into contact with local government, how the Constitution and Bill of Rights impacts on them

• Acts as a guide for those individuals who have acquired rights and illustrates how these rights should be respected

• Illustrates practical ways in which human rights can be translated from theory into practice

Who should purchase?

• Academics

• Students

• Members of local government structures

• Human rights organisations

Topics covered

• Foreword by President Nelson R Mandela

• Message from Clr Collin Matjila

• Message from Prof Nicky Padayachee

• Introduction by Prof Shadrack BO Gutto

• Human rights, local governance and the restoration of human dignity

• Importance of the Bill of Rights for local government: The challenge of developmental responsibility

• Local government and the concretisation of the Bill of Rights

• Expected impact of the Bill of Rights on the various role-players in local government and the transformative imperative

• Equality and local government with special reference to gender and race

• Freedom of expression and access to information in local government

• Access to information in local government

• Environmental, property, housing and water rights and obligations

• The role of local government in the democratisation of sporting, cultural, educational and recreational opportunities

• The right to health, equality and dignity – the case of HIV and AIDS

• Fair labour practices in the local government context

• Administrative justice in the constitutional order with special reference to local government

• Local government legislation and the Constitution during the transition to democracy

• Conclusion: Human rights input: The concretisation of human rights as a challenge for the future

• Appendices

Practical features

• Written in an easily understandable, clear style

• Contains relevant extracts from Constitution of Republic of South Africa 200 of 1993 and Constitution of South Africa of 1996

• Contact lists of Councillors within the Greater Johannesburg Transitional Metropolitan Council and Metropolitan substructures also included

• Map of Greater Johannesburg Transitional Metropolitan Council and Substructure Boundaries