Merger of three municipalities sunk by the people
LYDENBURG - The proposed amalgamation of three Mpumalanga municipalities, one of which was Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM), has been withdrawn.
This follows after public participation was allowed for objections regarding the redetermination and integration of municipal borders by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB).
The published legal notices was circulated in relevant Mpumalanga Provincial Gazettes between January 8 and 12 for community feedback.
On March 4, the MDB issued a circular notice to inform all stakeholders that this proposed coalition has been rejected.
“After the expiry of the objection period, the MDB recorded a total of 541 objections to the municipal merger. The amalgamation of TCLM with Bushbuckridge and Emakhazeni local municipalities was deferred indefinitely.”
The redetermination and merger of TCLM’s municipal borders with Bushbuckridge and Emakhazeni was presented for the first time at a council meeting on December 13, 2023. During that occasion, the DA in the TCLM voted against the merging of these municipalities.
The DA councillor in the TCLM, Comfort Sibiya, told Steelburger/ Lydenburg News: “The DA welcomes the Municipal Demarcation Board’s decision not to proceed with the amalgamation of the three municipalities. The demarcation board’s decision shows that it’s not a viable option. This is a major victory for the people of Thaba Chweu. It’s also a vindication for us as the DA for voting against it. We welcome this decision with open arms.”
According to a reliable source within the TCLM, reasons given by the public for the opposed proposition include unintended consequences that exacerbate existing challenges or create new ones, increased bureaucracy, reduced responsiveness to local needs or inequalities in service provision across different parts of the new municipality, and a failure to effectively address the needs and concerns of the communities involved, resulting in negative impacts on governance, service delivery and community well-being.