MBOMBELA – Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) has welcomed the decision by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) to amalgamate Mbombela and Unjindi local municipalities.
Once these two are formed into one new entity EDM will consist of only three local municipalities, the other two being Nkomazi and Thaba Chweu.
Spokesman for EDM Mr Lucky Ngomane says the amalgamation is what the people wants.
“The MDB’s decision to amalgamate any local municipality is normally a response to people’s requests. So all what it means is that if the people talks, the government listens.”
Mbombela/Umjindi amalgamation gets green light, July 10 2015 at 12:02
MBOMBELA – The amalgamation of Umjindi and Mbombela local municipalities ahead of next year’s municipal elections has been approved. The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) announced its decision last week.
It came about after the minister of cooperative governance, Mr Pravin Gordhan requested that the boundaries of “dysfunctional and non-viable” municipalities be redetermined “with a view to optimising the financial viability of these municipalities in time for the 2016 municipal elections” in February.
A public participation process was followed, but parties can still object to the board’s decision in writing for 30 days from July 2. After this the final decision will be gazetted and the new legal entity proclaimed. The new local municipality which will be formed will house Mbombela and Umjindi’s combined assets and liabilities.
The name will only be considered after the completion of the processes.
Ward delimination will then commence ahead of the 2016 municipal elections. It is expected that the amalgamation will put the new municipality on the road to attaining metro status.
Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesman for Mbombela Locla Municipality (MLM) said they support the amalgamation.
“In our view, it will have more positives than any negatives. The main reason for the minister to propose amalgamation of municipalities is to help them deliver on their constitutional mandate of basic services and become financially viable. Our ultimate dream is to become a metropolitan council and we hope the amalgamation will be one catalyst for us attaining that status in the long term.”
Umjindi municipality said it could not comment on the matter before it had been considered by its council.
Protests erupted over the planned merger in Barberton.
The DA, EFF and the Bushbuckridge Residents Association have questioned the viability and motives of the amalgamation.
Of the five amalgamations proposed by the minister in Mpumalanga only that of Mbombela and Umjindi has been approved.
According to the circular signed by Ms Jane Thupana, chairman of the MDB, they will not proceed with redetermining the other proposed amalgamations of Msukaligwa (Ermelo) and Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme (Volksrust), Lekwa (Standerton) and Dipaleseng (Balfour), Steve Tshwete (Middelburg) and Emakhazeni (Belfast) and eMalahleni (Witbank) and Victor Khanye (Delmas) at this time.
“The board has decided to conduct a more detailed investigation into the reconfiguration of the boundaries after the 2016 municipal elections,” they said in a statement.
Objectors can write to the MDB at Private Bag X123, Centurion, 0046 or email fazel@damarcation.org.za
