MDBs WARD DELIMITATION PROCESS GAINS MOMENTUM
In an effort to obtain stakeholder support on the ward delimitation process, the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) is engaging all key stakeholders, which includes amongst others Mayors, MECs, as well as Municipal Managers. The objective is to ensure that our stakeholders are empowered and get a clear understanding of the process of ward delimitation.
Every five years, the MDB delimits wards in metropolitan and local municipalities for electoral purposes. To this end, the MDB will conduct technical sessions with municipalities to configure draft wards between September and October 2019.
The process commences with the publication of formulae to calculate the number of councilors by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and thereafter the publication of the number of councilors by the provincial MEC’s responsible for local government. ,.
Thus far the Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma published the formulae in July 2019 and six provinces have published the number of Councillors, namely:
- Limpopo
- North West
- Western Cape
- Mpumalanga
- Eastern Cape and
- Free State
CURRENT STATUS OF THE WARD DELIMITATION PLAN
As indicated above, the MDB will now focus on the technical sessions with all Provinces, thereafter a nationwide public consultations on the first draft set of wards will commence from January 2020. Details of these consultations will be communicated towards the beginning of January 2020.
In anticipation of a robust public participation, MDB appeals to all stakeholders to embrace the ward delimitation process and familiarise themselves with process in order to participate meaningfully.
More information on the Ward Delimitation Process can be obtained on the MDB website, www.demarcation.org.za