Municipalities constitute the third and most local level of government in South Africa's administrative structure, with 213 such entities operating across the country. These bodies function as the primary interface between government and citizens, responsible for delivering essential services including water supply, electricity distribution, sanitation, waste removal, and local road maintenance. Municipalities also handle town planning, building regulations, and the provision of municipal health services. They generate revenue through property rates, service charges, and other local taxes, which fund their operational mandates. Under South Africa's constitutional framework, municipalities are divided into metropolitan municipalities in major urban centers, local municipalities in smaller towns and rural areas, and district municipalities that coordinate services across multiple local municipalities in less urbanized regions.