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The cities and boroughs, town boards and health committees in Natal all control their own
affairs and provide the required services themselves* . Health committees can approach
the Development and Services Board for technical assistance with regard to physical
infrastructure, for example water supplies, if necessary. The Development and Services
Board**, by virtue of the (Natal) Development and Services Board Ordinance No. 20 of
1941, currently acts as the local authority for 53 development areas and 33 regulated
areas. Development areas and regulated areas are declared where the population density
and/or health conditions are such that proper controls must be instituted. Regulated areas
are areas falling within the provisions of the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act No. 70
of 1970. In most of these areas incipient urbanization has already commenced or could
occur. The Board's basic function is to control further undesirable or unplanned
development. The Board also enforces urban local authority functions conferred by the
Health Act No. 63 of 1977. Basic services are provided in regulated areas with an
emphasis on potable water supplies. Development areas are recognized urban areas where
normal township development is controlled. The Board is accordingly responsible for the
provision and maintenance of a wide range of local authority services and infrastructure.
The main objective is to upgrade development areas to the point where an independent
local authority can be declared, or the area can be incorporated into an adjacent local
authority. The Board likewise controls a few blackresidential areas, for example, the Black
Development Area of Etete. The Board also controls the Trust Feed Black Development
Area, where water and sanitation services are provided. The Board will in addition, act as
an agent for the provision of infrastructure services in three areas being developed as black
townships (the latter in terms of the Black Local Authorities Act No. 102 of 1982). These
areas - classified as development areas - are Lovu, Lower Langefontein and Waterloo.
The Board on an overall basis, operates 13 waterworks, five sewage treatment plants and
39 waste disposal sites. The spectrum of areas for which the Board is responsible, ranges
from industrial townships (Hammarsdale) to rural settlements. There is a possibility that
*
**
See Anonymous, 1989. Official South African Municipal Yearbook. Helm Publishin9 Company,
Johannesburg, 608 p. (The publication, which is regularly updated, contains basic information on
towns and cities in South Africa, including details of water and wastewater schemes).
For an examination of the role of the Development and Services Board see: Reddy, P.S., 1991. local
government for Natal's ruraJ areas: the Development and Services Board (1941 - 19B9), Transkei
Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, VOl 1(2), p. 19 - 41.