MEDIA STATEMENT

PHONE: +27 83 414 2796 E-MAIL: info@hoedspruitccsa.com

6 APRIL 2015 .........................................................................................REDETERMINATION OF MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES

POINT OF DEPARTURE

The chairperson of the HCC, Me Sarah Bergs said that the HCC take note of the announcement by the Minister and the subsequent actions taken by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB).

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE MINISTERThe Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) sent out a Circular MDB CIRCULAR 2/2015: RE-DETERMINATION OF MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES to the MEC’s responsible for Local Government, the Speakers and Municipal Managers of affected municipalities, and the House of Traditional Leaders in Limpopo. The MDB Circular 1/2015 provided stakeholders with a copy of the letter received from the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs requesting the re-determination of certain municipal boundaries.

CONTENT OF LETTERThe Minister, Pravin Gordhan, send a letter to the MDB requested that MDB re re-determine the boundaries of certain municipalities, including the Maruleng Municipality, with a view to optimizing their financial viability. The proposal is that the Maruleng Municipality disestablish and incorporate in the Phalaborwa and Tzaneen municipalities.

POINT OF DEPARTUREMe. Bergs said that the Rule of Law is the point of departure for the HCC and that members of the HCC, as well as members of the Hoedspruit community will be encouraged to actively participate in the process within the applicable legal framework. The HCC will participate to ensure that the voice of business in Hoedspruit is heard and that the process is strictly conducted within the legally prescribed process.

CONSULTATIONAlthough the chairperson of the MDB, in the said circular, requested that Municipal Managers bring the contents of the notices to the attention to all stakeholders in the municipal area, including to the business organizations, the HCC did not as yet received any documentation in this regard. It is important that he legal framework provides for public participation in this regard. The term consultation has been defined by various courts of law such as the Constitutional Court.

PRECEDENT CREATED BY COURTS OF LAWThe court cases made it clear that communities must be consulted and heard in such a way that they have adequate information before hand to be able to meaningfully participate in the process.

NEXT MEETINGShe said that the next consultation meeting will take place on 14th April 2015 in the Maruleng Hall at 10:00am. She invited all members of the HCC to attend the meeting and provide positive input.

WHY ME AND YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATEMe. Bergs said that for the rule of law to work as it is intended to be, consultation must be done properly and consultation can only be done properly if communities actively participate. She calls upon all residents of the Maruleng Municipality to engage and participate fully in the process.

..............................................Media and LiaisonMrs. Marie Helm 0826832835

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