The legal battle over the future of the JB Marks Local Municipality returned to the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria on Friday, August 28, with judgment now reserved.

Community members from Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp, councillors and Democratic Alliance (DA) activists travelled to Pretoria to attend the proceedings and make their voices heard.

Anné van Onselen, DA ward councillor for Ward 3, described it as a long day in court but said the team of advocates had performed exceptionally well.

“It was a long day in court, but the team of advocates acquitted themselves excellently. The judge asked the right questions during our advocate’s argument, and from these questions, we could infer that he views the case in a positive light,” she said.

The judge has reserved judgment, meaning the interested parties will be notified once the judgment has been written and handed down.

The DA is challenging the Municipal Demarcation Board’s (MDB) decision not to review the boundaries of the JB Marks Local Municipality. The party wants the decision to be set aside and a new, lawful decision-making process to be followed.

The DA has argued that service delivery has deteriorated since the 2016 merger of the former Tlokwe and Ventersdorp municipalities.

The court is considering the legality of the MDB’s decision-making process as the battle over the possible demerger of the municipality continues.

More information will be made available once the judgment is delivered.