The change in ward boundaries is undemocratic and aimed at diluting the DA’s support. That’s the opinion of Ward 2 Councillor, Anton Raubenheimer, who has formally objected to the re-drawing of Endumeni’s ward boundaries ahead of the 2016 local elections.
The Municipal Demarcation Board has created a seventh ward for Endumeni and hacked off Strathmore Park and lumped it with the new ward 7 that includes Glencoe central and Glenridge.
Councillor Raubenheimer said the demarcation flies in the face of the Demarcation Board’s own definition of a voting district that should be used as building blocks for wards which include local churches, schools and community organisations.
“There are 250 registered voters in Strathmore Park who will now have to register at the Glencoe Town Hall. That means them travelling to a different town and magisterial area. This move does not build a community but splits it. Many will be hesitant to go there and vote and this is clearly a blow for democracy.”

Great confusion
Councillor Raubenheimer said he ‘also finds it strange that the Demarcation Board’ has chosen to hive off a section of Sibongile (part of ward 4) and include it into ward 2.
“About 300 voters who traditionally voted at the Sibongile administration hall will now have to go either the aerodrome or King Edward Park voting stations – even though there is a voting station within walking distance from their homes. This will create great confusion.”
He told the Courier that he feels this is a way of weakening the DA’s support by splitting voters.
“In last year’s national elections we grew by 25% in Endumeni. Should the new boundaries be accepted, the DA will find it’s traditional support areas split which of course benefits the ruling party.”
Councillor Raubenheimer said his ward committee, the Strathmore Park neighbourhood watch committee and the Farming Association were in support of his objection.