The board rejected requests to create new local municipalities in the province, a move that has been called irrational and a betrayal of the community’s right to functional local governance.

An announcement of the establishment of three new municipalities, including one in Harrismith, was made on Thursday, 7 August, by the MEC of Cogta, Saki Mokoena. He said a transformation committee, with the National Treasury, was already preparing for this process.

However, the MDB rejected all 13 proposals submitted nationwide, thereby failing to fulfil its constitutional obligation to consider at least some of them, says the DA.

“The DA will support the community in their effort to lodge a High Court review application to overturn this irrational decision and ensure residents receive the services they deserve,” said DA Cllr Leona Kleynhans from the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality.

“These proposals were declined after more than a year of intensive research and consultation. This can only point to last-minute political interference.”

The MBD determines municipal boundaries under the Municipal Demarcation Act and other legislation approved in terms of Chapter 7 of the Constitution.

The MEC in July said the provincial map will expand from 23 to 26 municipalities, with Maluti-a-Phofung (MaP), Mangaung, and Kopanong among those set for demarcation. 

The proposed redrawing of municipal boundaries would have excluded 25 wards located in the former Qwa-Qwa homeland area – including the transitional local councils of Phuthaditjhaba and Qwa-Qwa Rural – from MaP.

The Guard newspaper reports that for many years, MaP has been identified as one of the most dysfunctional municipalities in South Africa, plagued by corruption, political infighting, and poor service delivery.

These structural issues have resulted in hardship and a lingering sense of abandonment for people living in distant towns.

This restructuring would have aimed to bring government closer to the people, said Mokoena. “Towns such as Dewetsdorp have struggled under large metros, with services failing to reach communities on the ground. The goal is to create viable, functional municipalities that meet constitutional obligations.”

The DA says they believe the court is the only body that can, as it had previously done, review and set aside a decision of the Demarcation Board.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cvsthe