The KwaDukuza municipality will not take over control of KZN’s King Shaka International Airport but has gained a ward from Ndwedwe.

A proposal to shift eThekwini Metro Ward 58, which incorporates the airport, into the KwaDukuza municipal (KDM) boundary was rejected by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) last week.

KDM had lobbied for the change in the hope of claiming a crucial economic zone, but it ultimately came to naught when the MDB’s decisions were gazetted on January 11.

A second proposal, to shift eThekwini Ward 62 which covers most of Tongaat, was also denied, as was a proposal to fold the remainder of Tongaat, including Hazelmere Dam, into the Ndwedwe municipality.

All three areas will remain under eThekwini Metro control.

KDM mayor Lindile Nhaca says she is disappointed with the outcome.

“KDM registered its concerns on how the public process was handled by the MDB. The MDB made a deliberate mistake regarding the invitation for KwaDukuza to make their case.

“This deprived KwaDukuza from attending the sessions as the invitation was sent after hours and only discovered when the session was already under way.

“We view this as a deliberate act to undermine KwaDukuza as a growing municipality. However, we are not bitter and we respect this outcome with the belief that we are the fastest-growing municipality in the province,” she says.

KwaDukuza will take over Ndwedwe’s Ward 1 however, which will become the 31^st in KDM.

The ward notably includes Doringkop and will add around 7 000 residents to KwaDukuza’s population.

Elsewhere, iLembe, Maphumulo, KwaDukuza and Ndwedwe have all seen minor boundary changes made with regard to individual properties.

For the full list of changes, visit demarcation.org.za.