Metro on hold until 2016 elections
'This matter requires more detailed investigations' – Municipal Demarcation Board.
The merging of the four local municipalities on the West Rand has been halted until after the 2016 elections.
The merger would have and could still affect Mogale City, Randfontein Local Municipality, Westonaria Local Municipality, and Merafong Local Municipality.
The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) made the decision to halt the merger as a result of the concerns raised around capacity challenges as well as time frames.
Though there was considerable support for the ministers proposal that the area of the District Municipality be categorised as a category A (metropolitan) municipal area, concerns were raised about a number of other issues including the capacity challenges for the municipalities in the area, the tight time frames within which different authorities would need to finalise a range of legal and other practical matters before the 2016 local elections, ” Jane Tuphana, chairperson for the MDB said.
“The board took all inputs into account and decided that this matter requires more detailed investigations, and would therefore not be concluded before the 2016 local elections.”
Even though the metro has been taken off the cards until end of the 2016 local elections, the merging of Randfontein and Westonaria is absolute.
The board will now commence with the ward delimitation process in the four municipalities. Public meetings will be held to get community input on the configuration of ward boundaries.
The meetings will take place as follows:
• Mogale City Local Municipality – Tuesday, 18 August at 10am
• Merafong City Local Municipality – Thursday, 20 August at 10am
• New Westonaria/ Randfontein Local Municipality – Monday, 24 August at 10am
Meeting venues have yet to be announced.
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Also read:
R’fontein/ W’aria to merge regardless of metro
‘Metro will boost West Rand economy’
Single metro will have major consequences – DA
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