Local government in South Africa consists of municipalities (; ; ; ; ; Southern Ndebele: bomasipala; ; ; ; ) of various types. The largest metropolitan areas are governed by metropolitan municipalities, while the rest of the country is divided into counties called district municipalities, each of which consists of several boroughs called local municipalities. Since the boundary reform at the time of the municipal election of 3 August 2016 there are eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 205 local municipalities. Categories Municipalities can belong to one of three categories: metropolitan, district and local (referred to in the constitution as categories A, C and B). Metropolitan municipalities Metropolitan (or category A) municipalities govern large densely urbanised regions that encompass multiple centers with close economic linkages, i.e. metropolises. Metropolitan municipalities are unitary authorities responsible for all local government functions within their areas. Since the 2011 municipal election there are eight metropolitan municipalities: Buffalo City (East London – Mdantsane – Zwelitsha – King William's Town – Bhisho) City of Cape Town (Cape Town – Atlantis – Bellville – Mitchells Plain – Khayelitsha – Somerset West – Simon's Town) City of Johannesburg (Johannesburg – Soweto – Lenasia – Randburg – Sandton – Midrand) City of Tshwane (Pretoria – Centurion – Soshanguve – Hammanskraal – Mamelodi – Bronkhorstspruit) Ekurhuleni (Alberton – Katlehong – Germiston – Kempton Park – Tembisa – Boksburg – Benoni – Brakpan – Springs – Daveyton – Nigel) eThekwini (Durban – Umhlanga – Phoenix – KwaMashu – Pinetown – Chatsworth – Umlazi – Amanzimtoti) Mangaung (Bloemfontein – Botshabelo – Thaba 'Nchu) Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth – iBhayi – Despatch – Uitenhage) Buffalo City and Mangaung were originally local municipalities (see below) which were separated from their district municipalities and upgraded to metropolitan status in 2011. The other six municipalities were founded as metropolitan municipalities at the inception of the current system of local government in 2000. District and local municipalities The rest of the country, outside the metropolitan areas, is governed jointly by district and local municipalities. Each district (or category C) municipality is divided into a number of local (category B) municipalities. District municipalities have responsibility for broader matters such as integrated planning, infrastructure development, bulk supply of water and electricity, and public transport; while local municipalities have responsibility for all municipal functions not assigned to the district, and in particular local service delivery. As of 2016 there