High court settles issue of municipal amalgamation

After a number of months of opposing the amalgamation process, the DA had no choice but to throw in the towel on Friday.
This after the High Court ruled in favour of the demarcation board to proceed with the amalgamation of Umjindi and Mbombela.
DA Cllr Philip Minnaar said that not even the 95 per cent of strong voices of the Umjindi community against the amalgamation had been considered.

“The mayor, speaker, MMCs and ANC councillors have sold us out, they only have their own interest and agendas in mind and refuse to stand with the community and fight for the future of our town.
“The speaker and mayor publicly admitted that they had failed the community by not providing services, but now they are handing the town over to be amalgamated with an even worse municipality – one that is in fact totally bankrupt,” he said.

The DA feels that Barberton will only remain as a name. “The town will become part of a new bigger reality where the local residents will no longer have the power and freedom to govern themselves.

“This will create enormous challenges and we know the ANC doesn’t have the knowledge and political will to make a success of the new monster they have created.
“The DA will accept the challenge together with the community, we will listen, we will talk and we will represent the will and the needs of the community. The DA will create freedom, fairness and opportunity for all. Let us all stand together and rebuild our beautiful town,” said Minnaar.

In the meantime the process to amalgamate Mbombela and Umjindi local municipalities into one municipal area is continuing, and Jane Thupana, chairman of the board, said in a press release, “As the board we are happy that the aspersions cast upon the board’s independence and integrity through inferences that we bowed to pressure from external forces are baseless, as confirmed by the judgement today.”