Sparks were flying over a possible new West Rand merger this week.
Last week, The Herald reported that the Municipal Demarcation Board had sent out a circular indicating which municipalities would be amalgamated to form bigger metros. In annexure B, it reported that the amalgamation of the West Rand was currently being considered.
Although a request for such an amalgamation had been received from the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan, as early as 16 April this year, the matter was still being considered.
According to the circular, the matter under consideration was the creation of “a Category A Municipality for the whole of the West Rand District Municipality, with Mogale City Local Municipality as its core”.
The chairperson of the Municipal Demarcation Board, Ms Jane Thupana, also announced that public meetings would be held in all the municipalities throughout the West Rand to discuss the possible amalgamation.
“The Board will then consider the matter and arrive at a decision not later than August 2015,” she said.
Earlier this week it was announced that the public meeting in Merafong will be held in the Carletonville Civic Centre on Friday, 24 June, commencing at 10:00.
Westonaria’s meeting will be held on 22 July, that of Randfontein on 21 July and the meeting for Mogale City on 23 July.
In the meantime, the political battle over the amalgamation of the West Rand also gathered momentum during the week.
The DA has been very critical of the proposed amalgamation and even circulated a petition against the amalgamation earlier this year.
“People know and understand that the formation of a metro will have a detrimental effect on their quality of life, that rates will increase while service delivery declines, and that the effects of the financial drain caused by the merger will be carried for many years to come. There are other, more effective legislative ways to build capacity in underperforming municipalities, and the DA will continue to push for the scrapping of the merger and the implementation of other interventions.
The people of the West Rand deserve a closer and more accountable local government,” Ms Ina Cilliers, the DA’s constituency head for Merafong and a representative for this part on the Provincial Government, told the Herald recently.
In a press statement released by the West Rand District municipality, however, the district’s mayoral spokesperson, Mr Dennis Refentse Mangope said this municipality believed that the merger would hold many advantages.
He elaborated by stating that there is a need to further rationalise the total number of municipalities to achieve the objectives of effective and sustainable delivery. He said the reduction in the number of municipalities would assist in the financial viability of smaller municipalities.
According to the District, one of the major advantages would be cost-saving through economies of scale, for procurement and reduced political salaries in a single council, for example. He says the merger would also ensure the strengthening of social and economic links and development of infrastructure to link communities. Communities would also benefit from the sharing and redistribution of financial and administrative resources and the strengthening of the tax base through inclusivity and additional opportunities.
It is the District’s opinion that a single area is desirable for integrated development planning.
“It will attract investment capital and a reduction in competition between locals will lead to economic stability in the region. In addition, he says a new metro will lead to uniformity of transport services, public safety and traffic services, which will be beneficial to communities.
“There will be effective local governance when the superfluous, two-tier system is eliminated.”
