Ward rezoning consultations continue in Merebank
Residents in the Chinatown and Navy areas are encouraged to participate during the final consultation process of the ward demarcation process.

THE Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) continues with its public consultations on the ward demarcation process in ward 75 and other parts of the province.
The consultations are divided into two phases, of which the first phase was completed last year.
Also read: Chinatown residents give green light to phase two of ward rezoning
The ward rezoning in Chinatown and Navy areas in Merebank began last year in July following public outcry over the alleged exclusion of the community in the previous public consultations in the 2001 demarcation process.
The board’s provincial co-ordinator Mthobisi Manzini told the SUN that it is crucial that residents continue participating during the public consultations.
He said the public consultations on the demarcation process will continue until February this year. Thereafter, a final draft will be presented to the board in March for review.
Also read: Residents demand ward rezoning amid service-delivery issues
Once the board has reviewed the proposal, it will engage with residents for public consultations from April to June next year.
Ward 78 residents raise concerns
The call for ward 75 rezoning was, among other things, triggered by the residents’ call to be re-incorporated into Ward 68 – a ward they previously belonged to before they were relocated to Ward 75.
The residents raised concerns about the poor governance and service delivery which, according to them, move at a snail’s pace.
The MDB said in a statement, it delimits wards every five years preceding the local government elections in compliance with the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998, schedule 1 as amended (MSA).
The next local government elections will be held next year. According to the MDB, after the wards have been demarcated, a final list of all the wards will be handed over to the Independent Electoral Commission towards the end of 2025.
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