The MDB notes with great concern the disruptions that occurred during its public consultation session at Mbombela Local Municipality (Mpumalanga) earlier today, 06 February 2020. The disruption was propagated by a group of individuals from Umjindi municipality who made demands not related to the ward delimitation matters discussed at the meeting. The MDB, has in the past, made it clear that, the outer boundary matters will only be dealt with after the Local Government Elections in 2021.
The MDB is currently embarking on a nation-wide public consultations sessions on the draft sets of electoral wards in preparation of the 2021 local government elections. This is in view to support the MDB’s commitment towards free and fair elections and to ensure minimal disruption to the ward delimitation process.
“If communities continue in this manner and disrupt the MDB meetings, they will miss an opportunity to directly engage with us however, they can still fill forms accessible on the MDB website and submit their proposals by April 2020”, said Ms Jane Thupana, Member of the Board.
The MDB, therefore, calls on all communities (be it individuals, groups etc) to respect the rights of others to participate and cooperate with the Board during these public consultation proceedings until they are concluded on 30 April 2020.
Any person who wilfully disrupts or threatens the proceedings, will be committing a punishable offence as provided for in the Municipal Demarcation Act. In addition, the disruptions disadvantage ordinary members of the public who want to participate in having a say in how their wards would be reconfigured in preparation for the 2021 Local government elections.
For more information contact:
Barileng Dichabe
Senior Manager: Stakeholder Management and Communication
Tel: 012 342 2481
Cell: 071 354 2612/076 400 3903
E-mail: Barileng@demarcation.org.za
