Release of Report by the Municipal Demarcation Board on the request for Malamulele to be a stand-alone municipality
The Ministry for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, together with the Premier of the Limpopo province and the MEC responsible for local government in the province, received a briefing this morning from the Municipal Demarcation Board on the study that was commissioned by the Board to investigate the viability of a stand-alone municipality for the area of Malamulele.
Sections 24 and 25 of the Municipal Demarcation Act, respectively provides for the objectives of demarcation, and the factors that must be taken into account when determining municipal boundaries.
Some of these factors include:
- the interdependence of people, communities and economies as indicated by:
- existing and expected patterns of human settlement and migration
- employment
- commuting and dominant transport movements
- spending
- the use of amenities, recreational facilities and infrastructure
- commercial and industrial linkages
- the need for cohesive, integrated and unfragmented areas
- the financial viability and administrative capacity of the municipality to perform municipal functions efficiently and effectively
- the need to share and redistribute financial and administrative resources
- areas of traditional rural communities.
The study commissioned by the Board found that the proposal for a stand-alone municipality for the area of Malamulele does not meet the requirements prescribed by legislation.
We have noted with appreciation the thoroughness of the study commissioned by the Board, which took a considerable amount of time and effort. As a stakeholder in the matter, government undertakes to study the report in greater detail.
The Board reported that the study also pointed, among others, to service delivery challenges requiring urgent attention from all stakeholders. In this regard, the Departments of Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and the provincial government will work collaboratively in support of local government efforts to improve service delivery to all communities.
As part of this effort, government will ensure equitable distribution of resources for infrastructure investment and development in and around the area of Malamulele. A joint team will be established to ensure that these matters are expeditiously dealt with.
The Board has acknowledged receipt of the Ministers request, initiated in terms of section 22 of the Municipal Demarcation Act, to consider the determination and redetermination of the outer boundaries of unviable municipalities throughout the country.
The Minister has taken a holistic view in respect of the building of viable municipalities as part of the Back to Basics approach. In this regard, the Minister’s request includes four District municipalities in the Limpopo province.
This has been done within the context of preparations for the 2016 municipal elections, which will usher-in the fourth term of democratic local government in South Africa.
In summary, the following should be noted:
- The Municipal Demarcation Board found the proposals of the Malamulele Task Team for a stand-alone not viable in terms of the factors prescribed in the Municipal Demarcation Act
- A team of all relevant stakeholders will be established to ensure that services are provided to all communities in the area;
- A new process will now commence, which will entail a broader examination and investigation by the Board
- The outer boundaries of local municipalities in 4 district municipalities in the Limpopo province will be investigated by the Board, including the Malamulele area in the Thulamela Local Municipality.
We call on all persons involved to exercise leadership and discipline by not engaging in activities that jeopardise the safety and well-being of any persons, and especially the education of our children.
While there is a broader understanding that communities exercise their right to protest, those actions should not impact on the rights of others to go to their respective work places, and most fundamentally, the rights of learners to receive their education.
For enquiries:
Dumisa Jele
Chief of Staff: Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Cell: 082 908 4798
