Gauteng municipal demarcation consultation a sham
The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) finally announced the meeting schedule for the public to air their views on proposed municipal boundary changes in Gauteng.
While the DA in Gauteng welcomes the decision to consult the public on the far-reaching proposed changes to municipal boundaries in the province, we are disappointed in the manner that it is being done.
The MDB has once again limited consultation in the most contentious proposed boundary change in the province - to merge the DA-led Midvaal with Emfuleni - by only scheduling one meeting on the proposal for a new metro in southern Gauteng.
The MDB has an obligation to ensure that public meetings are held in all the affected municipalities and its decision not to hold a meeting in the Midvaal municipality is a clear attempt at stifling public participation.
Meetings in the province are held during the day when scores of affected residents will be at work, effectively side-lining them from the process making inputs hollow and limited.