The Local Government Municipal Structures Act 1998 (Act No. 117 of 1998), as amended, states in Chapter 4 that if the Council establishes an Executive Committee (Exco), it must elect a number of Councillors necessary for effective and efficient government, provided that no more than 20% of the Councillors, or 10 councillors, whichever is the least, is elected. The Act further states that Exco must be composed in such a way that parties and interests represented in the Municipal Council are represented in the same proportion as they are represented in the Council.

As the Principal Committee of the Municipal Council, Umzumbe Exco identifies the needs of the Municipality, review and evaluate those needs in order of priority. The Committee further recommends to the Municipal Council strategies, programmes and services to address priority needs