Another Malamulele brewing in OR Tambo District Municipality
The United Front in the Eastern Cape has noted with dismay, disappointment and shame the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan's endorsement of changes that the Municipal Demarcation Board has announced to disestablish and to merge Ingquza Hill and King Mhlontlo local municipalities with other municipalities.
The United Front not only feels that the decision and endorsement are top-down but that the move is tantamount to a systematic undoing of local government and has the potential to lead strife in the area.
Firstly, the demarcation board's approach negates the principle of wall-to wall-municipalities introduced in 2000.
Secondly, the test used in determining viability, sustainability and tax base of municipalities; commercialises local government as it puts the burden of running local government on "clients'' than on those ''appointed'' to run local government. Thirdly, the decision of the demarcation is oblivious to histories of the area. Ingquza Hill is the seat of AmaMpondo under Her Majesty, Queen Lombekiso MaSobhuza Sigcau.
To take areas under her jurisdiction to other chiefs and headmen is an affront to her dignity and reputation. Equally, the transfer of King Mhlontlo's areas to municipalities with different traditional leaders has the potential to lead to feuds in the area. Traditional leaders are always used and seen as pawns not as representatives of people in their own right. The Municipal Demarcation Act No.27 of 1998 stipulates that among the factors to be taken into account in demarcation of municipalities are areas of traditional rural communities.