Matsapha Town Council is a local authority established under the Urban Government Act, 1969, and operates within the national framework for urban local government under the oversight of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

The governance of Matsapha is based on a partnership between elected Council leadership and professional municipal administration. Council provides political leadership and strategic direction, while the administration is responsible for implementing Council decisions, managing municipal operations and delivering services to residents, businesses and other stakeholders.

The Council is composed of elected Councillors representing the municipality's wards, with the Mayor serving as the political head of Council. Council is responsible for providing policy direction, approving strategic priorities, overseeing municipal performance, setting service-delivery priorities and exercising oversight over the administration.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the head of the municipal administration and is responsible for the overall management and administration of the municipality. The CEO reports to Council and provides strategic and administrative leadership in translating Council's policies, resolutions and priorities into programmes, projects and municipal services.