West Rand merger plan vetoed

CO-OPERATIVE Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s vision of creating a fifth metro for Gauteng by next year has been dashed.

The Municipal Demarcation Board yesterday said it would not approve the conversion of the West Rand district into a metro.

Mr Gordhan submitted an application to the board to consolidate the district’s four struggling municipalities into a metro. He cited financial viability and administrative performance as possible spin-offs from a merger. The district comprises Mogale City, Randfontein, Westonaria and Merafong City.

The board said the merger required further investigation and would, therefore, not be concluded before next year’s polls.

ANC spokesman Nkenke Kekana said the party’s provincial structure viewed the board’s decision as a stepping stone to a metro in 2021.

“The merger of Westonaria and Randfontein will create a strong district in the meantime. It will also give financial viability and an opportunity to have a connectivity of collective services, transport and other infrastructure.” He said the provincial government would work to improve the standard of service delivery in the local councils.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) had resisted the merger proposal, saying it would worsen the near shambolic provision of services in the area. DA Gauteng chairman Solly Msimanga said yesterday the board’s decision would force political leaders to tackle the root causes of poor service. “We are not opposed to having better councils. We are opposed to merging failing councils.”