Municipal Demarcation Board engages stakeholders at WSLM on Ward Delimitation process
Story: Mzwandile Plaatjie | Photo: Supplied
The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) has initiated a comprehensive consultation process across all municipalities in preparation for the upcoming 2024/2025 municipal ward delimitation. This initiative, critical to the forthcoming Local Government Elections in 2026, was recently brought to the Walter Sisulu Local Municipality (WSLM).
During the session, stakeholders were provided with vital information and educational resources regarding the ward delimitation process. Ayanda Ntamo, representing the MDB, led the presentation, which aimed to empower local leadership and community representatives with the knowledge necessary to actively participate in and contribute to the delimitation process.
The session was attended by a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including all councillors, ward committees, representatives from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), and the Department of Home Affairs. The Speaker of WSLM, in his opening remarks, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of disseminating the information shared to the respective organisations and communities they represent.
Ntamo's presentation covered the purpose, background, and detailed processes involved in ward delimitation. She highlighted that the delimitation of wards is mandated by the Municipal Structures Act and occurs every five years preceding the Local Government Elections. The process, scheduled to commence in September 2024, involves several critical steps, including the certification of the voter’s roll by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the determination and publication of the formula for calculating the number of councillors by the Minister of COGTA.
The consultation process also focused on the application of ward delimitation criteria, which include ensuring that the number of registered voters per ward does not vary by more than 15% from the norm, avoiding the fragmentation of communities, and considering factors such as communication, accessibility, population density, and geographic characteristics.
Challenges associated with the ward delimitation process were also discussed, including the potential destabilisation of municipalities due to changes in ward configurations and the varying sizes of wards due to differences in voter density.
The MDB’s broad programme for 2024-2025 includes a series of public awareness campaigns, the configuration of draft wards with local municipalities, and public consultations on draft ward sets. The final ward boundaries are expected to be published by October 2025.
The engagement at WSLM marks a significant step in ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and prepared for the forthcoming ward delimitation process, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of the local governance system as South Africa approaches its next municipal elections.
For more information on the ward delimitation process and to participate in upcoming consultations, stakeholders are encouraged to visit the MDB's official website or contact their local municipal offices.