19 March 2009
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has passed the Constitution
Sixteenth Amendment Bill and the Cross-Boundary Municipalities Laws Repeal and
Related Matters Amendment Bill.
The Constitution Sixteenth Amendment Bill aims to amend the Constitution in
order to re-determine the geographical areas of the provinces of Gauteng and
North West which will result in the reincorporation of the Merafong City Local
Municipality into Gauteng.
The Cross-Boundary Municipalities Laws Repeal and Related Matters Amendment
Bill seeks to amend the Cross-Boundary Repeal Act so as to provide for the
re-demarcation of the boundaries of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda and West Rand
District Municipalities.
"We are putting a final nail in the coffin that buries unhappiness protests
from the people of Merafong in general and Khutsong in particular. We have
reached the crescendo of the journey taking the people of Merafong to where
they belong. These people were incorporated to the North West Province (NWP)
against their will," said Sicelo Shiceka, the Minister of Provincial and Local
Government, during his address to the House.
Merafong was moved from Gauteng to North West following the abolition of
cross-border municipalities in 2005.
Shiceka said the Bills were "a product of an extensive consultative process
with the people of Merafong, Parliamentary Committees and the Provincial
Legislatures."
The two Bills were last week approved by the select committees on Security
and Constitutional Affairs and the Local Government and Administration.
Chairperson of the select committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs
Kgoshi Mokoena said the Bills would now be sent to President Kgalema Motlanthe
for assent.
Mokoena said his wish was to see the people of Merafong given the necessary
service they deserve. "I wish the department will prioritise those people
because they have been neglected for a long time," he said.
Shiceka said a transitional committee led by his department has been
established. This committee will deal with two issues: overseeing the
reincorporation and the reconstruction and development of Merafong.
The House also passed the Division of Revenue Bill and Western Cape
Inherited Debt Relief Bill.
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
19 March 2009
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za)
