The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has resolved to defer the decision on the split of the J.B. Marks Local Municipality, in order to allow more time for stakeholder and community engagement and further research amongst other factors.

This means that the MDB has not yet made definite and final decision on whether the municipal boundaries will be redetermined into the former Tlokwe and Ventersdorp municipalities.

Listen here on the DA’s decision to obtain all applicable records considered that led to the board’s recent resolution to defer the decision on the split of the J.B. Marks Local Municipality:

The MDB’s chairperson, Thabo Manyoni, stated in a circular that  “the proposed re-determination is deferred because, amongst others, of the following: 1) There is no sufficient information available to allow for a final and sustainable decision to be taken; 2) It requires further research, public consultation, and / or stakeholder engagements.”

He further added that “all matters indicated as deferred are not closed and will remain with the MDB until such time the processes are completed and decisions are taken at a later stage as may be determined by the MDB.”

Previously, the MDB had opened a re-submission process in January 2023 for the re-determination of municipal boundaries. A year long process followed, which included both formal investigations and public meetings on proposed municipal boundary re-determinations, as well as public hearings on the matter.

The DA in the J.B. Marks Municipality has responded to the MDB’s decision with urgency via an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). This is in order to obtain all applicable records considered that led to the board’s recent resolution to defer the decision on the split of the J.B. Marks Local Municipality along the boundaries of the former Ventersdorp and Tlokwe municipalities.

The DA is also the First Applicant and registered stakeholder in initial submissions to the MBD to consider the split of J.B. Marks into the former Potchefstroom/Tlokwe and Ventersdorp local municipalities.

“We have, to date, participated fully with the MDB’s processes and during all our engagements and a public hearing, it became clear that residents and stakeholders want to see an end to the disastrous ANC gerrymandering project in J.B. Marks, and we believe that the MBD has sufficient information at its disposal to come to a decision to proceed with the split,” added DA councillor, Hans-Jurie Moolman.

According to Moolman the DA’s PAIA application to access all records is in the public interest.

“It is crucial that we conduct thorough oversight over this demarcation process to avoid yet another disastrous decision by the MDB. It is critical that during this process, participants in any public participation process should be fully informed about the considerations and decisions that have a major impact on governance and the quality-of-service delivery. The decision to initially merge the municipalities has had devastating results for both communities and the DA will ensure that no stone will be left unturned to reverse the decision.”

Since 2016, before the local government elections, there was heavy opposition regarding the proposed amalgamation of Tlokwe and Ventersdorp municipalities. One of the reasons for the opposition was the view that the “marriage” would negatively affect effective service delivery due to various factors such as distance between Potch and Ventersdorp as well as the logistical aspects of catering to both communities.

“Despite advice and a proposed alternative option to intervene and provide management support from a district level to Ventersdorp to restore its sustainability and improve service delivery to residents, the total opposite happened. Management is currently centralised and remote controlled from Potchefstroom which has a negative impact on service delivery to the Ventersdorp community,” explained Moolman.

Nationwide, a total of 63 proposals are proceeding to section 21 and a total of 132 proposals are closed, with a total of thirteen 13 proposals deferred.

What happens now?

January – February 2024

Municipalities and all other stakeholders have the opportunity to share information and encourage any person(s) aggrieved by the MDB determinations to submit objections within 30 days from the date of publication of the relevant provincial Gazette.

The Board must consider all objections received and resolve to confirm, vary or withdraw the determination or re-determination. The final decision must be published in the provincial gazette in terms of Section 21(5) of the MDA.