West Rand Metro on ice again
'We do not believe it is to the advantage or benefit of the tax payer'.
The ANC’s dream for a metro city on the West Rand has been thwarted yet again, Amanda de Lange, Freedom Front Plus West Rand Regional Leader said.
The Freedom Front Plus has laid a complaint with the Municipal Demarcation Board for the non-compliance of the West Rand municipalities to meet the prescribed regulations and requirements of a category A metro status municipality.
“The Municipal Demarcation Board held a media conference on Friday afternoon 3 July at OR Tambo, announcing the delay in their decision on the request for a metro in the West Rand.
“It is peculiar that a media conference of this nature for the West Rand is held before any of the concerned municipalities or their councillors are informed of this decision. We also question the reason for conducting the media conference at OR Thambo and not locally where all stakeholders could attend.”
Times Lives reported that the chairperson of the Demarcation Board said the Minister of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ application for a Category A metropolitan was submitted too late.
“The chairperson said the application needs to go through all the required processes, similar to that of all other demarcation proposals.
“The re-determination of municipal borders for Mogale City, Randfontein, Westonaria and Merafong City will have a huge impact on the outcome of the local elections in 2016.
“Judging by the hasty irregular processes followed so far by the four West Rand municipalities, the ANC government intends to have this process done and dusted before the local elections, which will see the ANC at a huge advantage.
The Freedom Front Plus will oppose this merger again as they did in 2012. We do not believe it is to the advantage or benefit of the tax payer who already is sponsoring the non-paying larger communities of all four these municipalities.
“The Freedom Front Plus will not support the West Rand metro drive under these circumstances and maintain that the redistribution of wealth does not guarantee prosperity, even if the financial support from national treasury and other state organisations increases tremendously.
“Those residents who oppose the proposed new metro on the West Rand, can add their names to an online petition in this regard that will be submitted to the Demarcation Board and the Minister of Cooperative Governance.”
The petition can be found at www.mymunicipality.org.za. Click on the ‘Municipal Petitions’ link in the menu bar and choose ‘West Rand Demarcation Petition’ from the drop-down menu.
