Proposed Free State municipal merger talks on hold

MDB chairperson Landiwe Mahlangu said the logistical arrangements for the meetings needed to be tightened up so that there are no loopholes or reasons for the affected communities or stakeholders to question the process and ultimately its outcome.

Mahlangu met with some of the key stakeholders on Monday, with the view to pave the way for the meetings in Metsimaholo and Ngwathe municipalities, Parys, Edenville and other affected municipalities. The consultations are to be rescheduled, and an announcement of the new dates would be made in due course.

Mahlangu said the affected communities and stakeholders would be informed timeously of the new dates and venues once they have been secured.

"The MDB would like to reassure all those affected stakeholders that the rescheduled public participation meetings are not going to affect the timeframes the MDB has set for itself as prescribed in section 27 of the Municipal Demarcation Board Act of 1998," he said.

In January, residents of Zamdela outside Sasolburg protested over a proposed merger of Metsimaholo and Ngwathe municipalities.

Other affected areas are the proposed redetermination of the municipal boundaries of Naledi local municipality, Xhariep district municipality, Mantsopa local municipality, Setsoto local municipality, and Thabo Mofutsanyane district municipality, by creating a new district comprising Naledi, Setsoto and Mantsopa.

The MDB is proposing a redetermination of the municipal boundaries of Mantsopa, Thabo Mofutsanyane and Xhariep by excluding Mantsopa from the municipal area of Thabo Mofutsanyane, and by including it into the municipal area of Xhariep.

The MDB is an independent body tasked with determining municipal boundaries across the country.

Every five-year municipal electoral period, the board needs to undertake a review of the geographical location of municipalities and make recommendations if changes are needed that would allow for improvement in service delivery.