Determination of municipal wards in the province can now proceed without delay after the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has announced on Friday that all inputs and objections to the proposed determination of municipal boundaries were considered and that a final decision has been taken.
A media release issued by the MDB informed that Fetakgomo and Greater Tubatse Municipalities are to be amalgamated, as is the case with Modimolle and Mookgophong. This comes after the Democratic Alliance (DA) attempted to interdict the MDB from finalising the matter. The application for an interdict was however recently dismissed by the North Gauteng High Court.
Thapelo Matlala, Provincial Executive Officer of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) Limpopo, said that the association welcomed the decision of the High Court. “It will create certainty as the municipalities do their planning around issues of establishing and de-establishing of structures. There are a number of issues that municipalities should consider during the process such as new Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), assets, staffing, establishment of new administrative offices, number of councilors and on the side of the MEC, what type of municipalities.
According to Matlala, the MEC has already established political change management structures to deal with the matters. “The judgment will bring confidence and ensure that the transitional structures are given a boost and will bring certainty around the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) processes because any decision that was going contrary to the MDB’s determinations, would have delayed the elections. We are confident that we will have our municipal elections between May and August next year,” Matlala concluded.
Meanwhile, the R36 between Hoedspruit and Tzaneen and especially the T-junction at The Oaks, has been occupied by protestors and the police advised motorists to use alternative routes if possible.
The protest is linked to service delivery issues and is blamed on the MDB. The area has been a hotspot for the last ten days and the protesters mainly operates at night.
The tyres of a truck carrying chemicals were slashed during the weekend.
Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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Photo: Left: Thapelo Matlala, Provincial Executive Officer of the South African Local Government Association in Limpopo. Right: Jane Thupana, Chairperson of the Municipal Demarcation Board during a visit to the city earlier this year.
