MUNICIPAL DEMARCATION BOARD RE-DETERMINATION OF BOUNDARIES OF CROSS-BOUNDARY MUNICIPALITIES

1. MUNICIPAL DEMARCATION BOARD RE-DETERMINATION OF BOUNDARIES OF CROSS-BOUNDARY MUNICIPALITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN KZN AND EC PRESENTATION: VUYO MLOKOTI: CHAIRPERSON: MDB PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 18 OCTOBER 2005

2. Background • In terms of section 22 of the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, 1998, the Municipal Demarcation Board may determine or re-determine municipal boundaries on its own initiative, on request by the Minister or a MEC for local government, or on request by a municipality with the concurrence of any other municipality affected by the proposed determination or re-determination. • In August 2005 the Minister of Provincial and Local Government requested the MDB to re-determine the boundaries of certain municipalities. The Minister’s request was gazetted (Government Gazette No. 27937) for general information on 19 August 2005. • As from 2 September 2005 the Minister’s request was published in the media in terms of section 26 of the Demarcation Act, 1998, inviting the public to submit written views and representation to the Board. • On 7 and 13 October 2005 the Board met to deal with written views and representations received.

3. Principles • MDB has no mandate to deal with provincial boundaries. • MDB’s mandate is limited to the demarcation of municipal boundaries, and the delimitation of wards. • MDB re-determined boundaries within existing legal framework. • MDB has the responsibility to take into account all views, representations, and applicable legislation, but ultimately it must perform its functions independently, impartially, and without fear, favour or prejudice. • Re-determinations of boundaries if CBMs are provisional, and subject to concurrence of provincial legislatures and authorisation by national legislation. • Any changes to municipal boundaries need to be limited, as wards have already been delimited for the elections. • Changes to municipal boundaries (may) affect the number of councillors, the number of wards, voting districts and the voters’ roll. • Demarcation process need to be finalised as soon as possible to allow Parliament to proceed with the amendment of legislation. • Time needs to be allowed for the IEC to comply with their legal requirements including the registration of voters, and the compilation of a national common voters’ roll. • No changes can be made after the election date has been proclaimed, as the voters’ roll closes on that date. • MDBs re-determination need to be gazetted this week. • 30 days will be allowed for objection.

4. MDB Resolution: MP & LIM municipalities Boundaries of Bohlabela District Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Sekhukune District Municipality and Capricorn District Municipality provisionally re- determined as follows: • Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, and the portion of the Kruger Park DMA south of the Olifants River, are excluded from the municipal area of Bohlabela District municipality and included into the   Ehlanzeni District Municipality; • The Maruleng Local Municipality and the portion of the Kruger Park DMA north of the Olifants River, are excluded from Bohlabela District Municipality and included into Mopani District Municipality; • The boundaries of Capricorn District Municipality is re-demarcated to include Mkahudatutamaga Local Municipality and Fetagomo Local Municipality; and • The remainder of Bohlabela and Sekhukune District Municipalities are re-demarcated into one new District Municipality comprising of: Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, Greater Tubatse Local Municipality, Greater Groblersdal Local Municipality and Greater Marble Hall Local municipality.

5. Ehlanzeni DC to comprise of Kruger Park south; Mbombela, Bushbuckridge, Umjindi and Nkomazi (Thaba Chweu excluded, and Bushbuckridge/Kruger Park south included)

6. Mopani DC to comprise of Kruger Park north, Greater Giyani, Greater Letaba, Greater Tzaneen, Ba-Phalaborwa and Maruleng (Maruleng and Kruger Park north added)

7. Capricorn to comprise of Blouberg, Aganang, Molemole, Pholokwane, Lepele-Nkumpi, Mkahudatutamaga and Fetagomo (latter 2 Limpopo municipalities added)

8. New DC (Bohlabela/Sekhukhune) to comprise of Thaba Chweu, Greater Tubatse, Greater Groblersdal and Greater Marble Hall (all cross boundary local munics plus Thaba Chweu included. 3 Limpopo local municipalities, and Bushbuckridge excluded)

9. MDB Resolution: GT & MP municipalities Boundaries of Kungwini, Thembisile, Nkangala and Metsweding provisionally re-determined as follows: • The farm Rietfontein No. 612 JR, the farm Jobarne No. 489 JR, and the remaining portions of the farm Leeuwfontein No. 466 JR, are excluded from the municipal areas of Thembisile Local Municipality and Nkangala District Municipality, and included into the municipal areas of Kungwini Local Municipality and Metsweding District Municipality.

10. Ekangala villages outside Ekangala and Ekandustria in Kugwini, need to be included in Kungwini

11. Kungwini Local Municipality: Villages and additional land for possible future expansion/development included

12. Thembisile Local Municipality: Villages and additional land for possible future expansion/development excluded

13. Nkangala DC to comprise of Dr. J S Moroka, Thembisile, Delmas, Middelburg, Emalahleni & Highlands (only amended to exclude the 2 villages)