Parliament, Saturday, 22 July2023 – The residents of KwaZulu-Natal’s King Cetshwayo District Municipality have submitted that the proposed demarcation body in the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority (IMDA) Bill must be able to resolve some of the disputed and“abnormal” demarcations that have happened under the current Municipal Demarcation Board.
During public hearings on the IMDA Bill in Nseleni Community Hall, Richards Bay, the citizens told the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs which conducted the public hearings about some of what they referred to as strange or abnormal ward demarcations and gave example of a case where one yard belonged in two different wards.
They argued that many of the existing demarcation challenges were as a result of failure of consultation of the affected communities by the responsible officials and choose to undertake the process from their offices instead of going to the area.
A majority of residents who spoke during the public hearings told the committee that the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority, that is proposed in the Bill, must be able to resolve some of the disputed municipal boundaries.
Commenting on the provision for the establishment of the Demarcation Appeals Authority to deal with appeals, the citizens said the Bill was not clear on what can be appealed – whether outcome or the process.
The Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, to align and update the legislation with current Demarcation Board practices, and to rename the Municipal Demarcation Board to the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority.
There were also those who felt that there was no need for a new legislation, they argued that instead government should have identified weaknesses in the existing law and make some changes such as strengthening public consultation during demarcation and delimitation of wards.
The committee is embarking on a nationwide public consultation programme to solicit citizens’ input on the draft legislation which seeks to repeal and replace the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, to align and update the legislation with current Demarcation Board practices, and to rename the Municipal Demarcation Board to the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Fikile Xasa, thanked the people of King Cetshwayo District for participating in the parliamentary process of making laws, and also advised those who missed out on the opportunity to make oral submission to submit their inputs in writing before the August 29 deadline. Submissions must be sent to IMDAB@parliament.gov.za.
Today the committee will continue with public hearings in Ugu District Municipality.
Date:Saturday, 22 July 2023
Time:12:00
Venue:: Uvongo Town Hall (Port Shepstone)
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, MR FIKILE XASA.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Leader of the delegation, please contact:
Name: Sakhile Mokoena
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E-mail: smokoena@parliament.gov.za
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