The West Rand District Municipality held a joint special council meeting at the Imbizo Chambers within the district offices on 17 April at 12pm.
This was to discuss a way forward with regards to the controversial merger of the Randfontein and Westonaria Local Municipality into one municipality before the 2016 Local Government Elections.
Although the controversial merger is said to have been approved, local councilors have rejected this saying that this will not work owing to the fact that both municipalities are financially strapped
The herald has spoken to DA Chief Whip Evert du Plessis who says that the amalgamation of the Randfontein and Westonaria municipalities would have been a good plan if both these municipalities were not in the dire financial positions that they are.
“Both municipalities are cash strapped and one cannot take on the other one at this point.
“It just wont work for Randfontein and Westonaria,” says du Plessis who adds that a lot of councilors will have to step down including one Mayor.
Meanwhile, West Rand District Municipality spokesperson Dennis Mangope says that this will be of benefit to both municipalities as it will result in the sharing of resources among other things.
“After lengthy deliberations and the Municipal Demarcation Board processes of determining the boundaries within the West Rand District Municipalities, the MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs in Gauteng has agreed to the merger and will facilitate the transitional processes for the final amalgamation of the municipalities,” says Mangope.
According to him, the amalgamation will be coordinated by the West Rand Dissrict through the establishment of committees that will work within a clear time frame.
“Randfontein and Westonaria will contest the 2016 Local Government Elections as one municipality,” says Mangope.
Mangope says that unfortunately some job losses within the municipalities are unavoidable, but he urges people to look at the bigger picture, saying that service delivery will be greatly improved and the sharing of resources will ensure a more effective municipality.
Many residents and opposition parties are still opposed to the merger.
Watch this space for more on this story as it develops.
