‘Metro will boost the West Rand economy’
Let the people of West Rand decide – West Rand District Municipality.
A metro will only boost the West Rand economy the West Rand District Municipality Mayoral spokesperson, Dennis Refentse Mangope said.
“The West Rand District Municipalities are highly disappointed by the continuing rumblings of the DA about the metro system of Local Government in the West Rand Region. We continue to observe the DA’s anti-democracy and fear through its consistent misinformation and lies against municipalities of the West Rand.
“The DA cannot continue to use the financial status of municipalities when they are part of the decision-making processes to turn the situation around. Our people on the West Rand are not interested in the political gallery game playing by the DA.
The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) must be allowed to perform its duties and functions without hindrance and party-political interference by the likes of the DA. The DA is fearful of the metro system as it stands on its way of realising its strategy of holding on to a single isolated municipality.”
Mangope continued, “Let the people of West Rand decide. The DA’s attempts to pre-empt the outcome is strongly condemned.”
Benefits of a single category A municipality:
• There is a need to further rationalise the total number of municipalities to achieve the objectives of effective and sustainable delivery
• The rationalisation of the number of municipalities will assist in the financial viability of smaller municipalities
• A major advantage will be the cost saving because of economies of scale, eg for procurement and reduced political salaries in a single Council
• A single area is desirable for integrated development planning
• The strengthening of social and economic linkages and development of infrastructure to link communities
• Sharing and redistributing of financial and administrative resources
• The attraction of investment capital and less competition between locals will lead to economic stability in the region
• The strengthening of the tax base through inclusivity and additional opportunities
• Uniformity of transport services and public safety and traffic services will be beneficial to communities
• Enabling effective local governance by eliminating the superfluous two-tier system.
The Strategic leadership of the West Rand Municipalities also considered the other option to assist the MDB as we are looking at 2016 and beyond, the merger of Randfontein and Westonaria Local Municipalities,” Mangope added.
“The MDB published two circulars during 2013 determining the municipal boundaries of the West Rand. The MDB proposal is to amalgamate the municipalities of Randfontein and Westonaria into one category B municipality. The West Rand would then consist of three category B municipalities (Mogale City, Merafong City and Randfontein/Westonaria) and one District (category C). This was published in the provincial gazette of 08 August 2013. The WRDM (as coordinating structure of the transformation process) has indicated acceptance of the final decision, while re-iterating its position on the preferred option.
“The public participation process and media engagement will continue as a re-branded “Vision 2016 and Beyond” campaign and district-wide shared services will continue to be implemented.
“The amalgamation of the two municipalities also will be coordinated by the West Rand District Municipality through the established committees that are working within a given time frame. As we prepare for the 2016 local government elections, we hope the MDB will resolve that Randfontein and Westonaria contest these elections as one municipality.”
The West Rand District Municipality currently is facilitating the disestablishment of the two municipalities at the West Rand Council offices.
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