‘We don’t want a metro’
Heated discussion arose at merger stakeholder meeting.
The West Rand municipal merger has been nothing short of controversial as the Democratic Alliance (DA) has strongly and publicly proclaimed its opposition towards the idea.
Randfontein Executive Mayor, Mzi Khumalo and District Mayor, Mpho Nawa began the meeting on a positive note and highlighted the good in merging West Rand municipalities Merafong, Mogale City, Randfontein and Westonaria.
“In merging these municipalities, it will give us access to more funding. More opportunities,” Khumalo said.
“We need metropolitan governance. It is better for all of us to support this.”
Nawa assured “This decision will only be made after these [public participation] meetings.” However, it is interesting to note that there has already been a sign erected on the Windsore Avenue (R28) welcoming the merger ‘and a brighter 2016 for all.’
Hand gestures flew and harsh words were spoken at the stakeholders meeting held on Tuesday (2 June). This will mark the first of day of public participation meetings in the four of the respective municipalities.
Member of Parliament for the DA, Jacques Julius spoke strongly against the idea at the Tuesday meeting.
“Firstly, there is a difference between a metro and a uni-city. I agree that the West Rand needs to be developed as a whole but not like this. This is being politicised so that you [ANC] can remain in control.”
According to the Solly Msimanga MPL DA Gauteng provincial chairperson West Rand residents came in full force at the DA coordinated awareness campaign throughout Merafong, Mogale City, Westonaria and Randfontein municipalities to object to the proposed creation of a metropolitan municipality.
“The DA is strongly opposed to merging these local municipalities into a metro, as we believe that cooperative governance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his provincial counterpart Jacob Mamabolo had other avenues to address the host of administrative governance issues plaguing these municipalities.”
“The Tshwane experience has also shown that service delivery has not improved when merging poor performing municipalities — despite the fact that municipal rates were increased — as the debt burden is simply too much to bear. Tshwane had to absorb a cost of R1 billion to accommodate the merge, and was only compensated R20 million by the provincial government.”
The DA calls on the greater public to arrive in their numbers at the public participation meetings at all four respective municipalities this week to raise their concerns.
“The DA will remain at the forefront of the battle for better service delivery and to prevent the formation of a dysfunctional West Rand Metropolitan Municipality.”
Next public participation meetings:
• Wednesday, 3 June, Mogale City, Centenary Hall at 3pm
• Thursday 4 June, Westonaria, Banquet Hall at 3pm
• Friday 5 June, Carletonville Civic Centre at 3pm
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Also read:
Randfontein and Westonaria to become one municipality
Four municipalities’ merger a bad idea – DA
R’fontein/ W’aria merger a done deal
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