Historically, South Africa had a very centralized government with a provincial government responsible for determining the powers and functions of local government, however, this changed with the Final constitution. The constitution helped elevate local government from the subordinate level, giving it powers it can exercise autonomously. Local government has the power to carry out specific functions listed in the Constitution, for example health, water and electricity services, as well as any tasks assigned to it. Because the three spheres are distinct, interdependent and interdependent, none of them can jeopardize the other's ability to govern (Cameron & Milne, 2011: