District Municipalities have to see to the development of their areas as a whole. They must build the capacity of local municipalities in their areas so that the local councils can carry out their functions. District Councils also have to make sure those resources and services are distributed fairly amongst the local municipalities.

These are some of the functions and powers of District Councils:

• To plan for development for the district municipality as a whole
• Bulk supply of water for the municipalities in the district
• Bulk supply of electricity for the municipalities in the district
• Bulk sewage purification works and main sewage disposal
• Waste disposal sites for the whole district council area
• Municipal roads if support is needed, and gravel roads for the whole district council area
• Regulating passenger transport services
• Municipal health services for the whole area
• Fire-fighting services for the whole area
• Control of fresh produce markets
• Control of cemeteries
• Promoting local tourism for the whole area
• Municipal public works

National or provincial government can also delegate other functions to municipalities, though these must be within the limits of legislative provisions to do so.

Where local municipalities lack capacity, the district should provide the service directly to the people at local level – for example fire trucks and road scrapers are often based at district municipalities and serve all the locals.