The Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Andries Nel, today told members of the National Council of Provinces in Parliament that the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) is expected to announce its final decision regarding the re-determination of 157 municipal boundaries by 30 September 2013.
The deputy minister was responding to a question by Mr WF Faber (DA - Northern Cape) whether the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs would be requesting the Municipal Demarcation Board to table a report in Parliament giving reasons for its recommendation to merge Midvaal and Emfuleni Municipalities.
Nel indicated that it was necessary that all changes in municipal boundaries be finalised prior the national and provincial elections so that the national voter’s roll could be segmented according to confirmed and final municipal boundaries.
“The MDB has not made a final decision regarding the recommendations it published in the Government Gazette (8-12 August 2013) and that it will only do so once it has considered objections to its proposals,” said Nel.
Nel pointed out that any person could approach the MDB to request reasons for its decisions and hence it was not necessary for the Minister to request the MDB to table a report in Parliament.
Further details are provided on MDB Circular 2 of 2013: Redetermination of Municipal Boundaries: Section 21 Processes and can be accessed from the MDB website.
For more information:
Botshelo Rakate
Cell: 074 114 3877
