South African District Council boundaries, 2018

In 2018, South Africa had 44 district municipalities (also known as district councils), following a series of municipal restructuring processes aimed at improving governance efficiency and service delivery. These district municipalities functioned as an intermediate tier of local government, overseeing 205 local municipalities within their jurisdictions. Their primary responsibilities included regional spatial planning, bulk infrastructure development, disaster management, and economic development coordination. The reduction from 52 district councils in 2009 to 44 in 2018 was part of a broader municipal consolidation effort to address administrative inefficiencies and financial sustainability challenges.