Section 16(1) of the Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act No. 56 of 2003 (MFMA) states that, the council of a municipality must for each financial year approve an annual budget for the municipality before the start of the financial year.

Section 16(2) further states that, in order for a municipality to comply with subsection (1), the mayor of the municipality must table the annual budget at a council meeting at least 90 days before the start of the budget year.