WARD 97 councillor and member of the eThekwini Municipality’s executive committee, André Beetge, has addressed some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the proposed Ward demarcation and its impact on the demographics of the affected Wards.

Also read: Communities urged to help reconfigure Ward boundaries

This follows the recently concluded public input period to the Municipal Demarcation Board as part of consultations to redraw Ward boundaries ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Beetge said eThekwini is presently divided into 111 wards, each with between 15 000 and 20 000 registered voters.

“This is an attempt to have a balanced representation so one Ward is not, for example, representing 500 people, as opposed to another with 15000, yet having equal input at council. With rapid urbanisation and densification, the inland neighbouring Ward 109, spanning from the rear of Doonside, up School Road to Lower Illovo, now exceeds the maximum,” said Beetge.

He said it is proposed that the Lower Illovo voting station, currently from the R603 down to the steel bridge and including the old Illovo Country Club area, which has 700 registered voters, be moved into Ward 98 across the river. Ward 98 includes Umgababa, Danganya, and Mashiwase.

Suggested changes include reassigning part of Kingsburgh West, with 1207 registered voters, from Ward 109 into Ward 97, creating a fifth voting station for the Ward.

Beetge believes the proposed realignment of Ward boundaries favours some political parties more than others.

“Residents are encouraged to check their voting registration status by sending an SMS containing their ID number to 32810, or to visit the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) website at www.elections.org.za and typing in their ID number. Registration can be done online on the same IEC platform or at IEC offices at Gracedale Road in Winklespruit from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 15:00,” he said.

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