Staff Reporter
The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has announced it will not re-determine any municipal boundaries at this time.
The decision, it said, is driven by the current state of local government, marked by widespread distress and underperformance, and the need to promote stability within municipalities while accelerating service delivery.
This means the municipal boundaries of 18 municipalities, linked to 13 cases deferred for further investigation during the 2023/24 boundary re-determination process, will remain unchanged.
The affected municipalities are in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West.
“We urge government to be intentional in developing mechanisms that support clear programmes aimed at fostering integration, development, and equitable resource distribution,” said Acting Chairperson Dr David Mohale.
“We further trust that municipalities will strengthen their efforts to deliver essential services to communities, thereby promoting sustainable and efficient local governance.”
The MDB noted that frequent and significant boundary changes tend to destabilise municipalities. While reversing previous re-determinations may be tempting, the Board said the priority is ensuring stability, given the dire state of many municipalities.
“Research indicates that the failures of most municipalities affected by major boundary changes in recent years—including some still under review—are largely due to poor transitional processes and inadequate initial support, compounding existing governance and administrative challenges,” the Board added.
The MDB has informed Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, the nine CoGTA MECs, chairpersons of the national and provincial Houses of Traditional and Khoisan leaders, SA Local Government Association (SALGA) President Bheke Stofile, and Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) Chairperson Mosotho Moepya, among others, about its decision.
INSIDE METROS