The MDB remains fully committed to citizen engagement, hence it is doing everything in its power to ensure that members of the public continue to have a say on how their wards should be configured.

After a thorough analysis and consideration of the overall impact of the lockdown on the overall ward delimitation programme, a revised programme was developed with new timeframes as indicated below:

The submission date for written submissions has been extended from 15 May 2020 to 31 May 2020 for Batch 1 municipalities as listed in Annexure A of Circular 4/2020. Members of the public and all stakeholders who have not yet submitted their submissions have until then to submit their submissions on how their wards should be configured.
In June 2020, the MDB will consider all submissions (Batch 1) and determine wards for publication in provincial Gazettes. All wards will be published in provincial Gazettes in July 2020. Anyone aggrieved by the wards as published will be allowed 14 days to submit written objections. In August 2020, the MDB will consider all objections received (Batch1) determine and publish final wards in provincial Gazettes. Final wards for Batch1 will be handed over to the IEC by September 2020.

With regards to municipalities where the public meetings were suspended (Batch 2) as listed in Annexure B, the period for making written submissions will be extended to 31 July 2020.

In August 2020, the MDB will consider all written submissions (Batch 2) and determine wards for publication in provincial Gazettes. All wards will be published in provincial Gazettes in September 2020. Anyone aggrieved by the wards as published will be allowed 14 days to submit written objections. In October 2020, the MDB will consider all objections received (Batch 2) determine and publish final wards in provincial Gazettes. Final wards for Batch 2 will be handed over to the IEC by November 2020.

Ward delimitation and public consultation information e.g. draft maps and submission forms has been distributed to all municipalities and are also available on the MDB website www.demarcation.org.za or on request by calling the MDB at 012 342 2481 for assistance on any query related to ward delimitation.

These measures are taken to deepen democracy and to ensure adequate participation of community members in the process. The MDB is aware that conditions on the ground are fluid and are changing all the time due to the uncertainty brought about by the country’s efforts to fight against the spread of the Corona Virus.

In this regard, the MDB will provide the necessary updates in line with regulations imposed during the lockdown period. The MDB appeals to communities to stay home, wash their hands, practice physical distancing and wear a mask when in public spaces.