KZN Legislature Concludes Its Highly Successful Public Hearings On Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill
MEDIA STATEMENT
26 March 2025
KZN LEGISLATURE CONCLUDES ITS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC HEARINGS ON INDEPENDENT MUNICIPAL DEMARCATION AUTHORITY BILL
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) today wrapped up its public hearings on Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill, which among other things, seeks to provide for the criteria and procedures for the determination and redetermination of municipal boundaries.
The public hearings were held in Harry Gwala District, Amajuba District, Zululand District and eThekwini Municipality from the 18th of March 2025. Commenting after the conclusion of the last public hearing in Zululand District today, Ms Marlaine Nair, the Committee Chairperson, has described the hearings as a resounding success. She added that the legislators had managed to receive valuable inputs from the public.
“The Bill we are processing is emanating from the National Parliament, and it is aimed at repealing and substituting the current Municipal Demarcation Act of 1998, to align it with the current demarcation board practices. It also deals with the introduction of a Demarcation Appeals Authority to allow for redress by persons aggrieved by a decision of the board and the renaming of the board to that of the Independent Demarcation Authority. We commend the public for the inputs they have made in all four public hearings. We are also happy that we had high turnouts,” said Nair.
Among the inputs made by the public in all the public hearings was the issue of transparency in the procedure and consultation with the public in the demarcation of wards, the need for qualifications of the Board members to be published, assessment of the socio-economic impact of the merger of wards.
The inputs made during public hearings will form part of the KZN Legislature’s report to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and could possibly change the version of the Bill that is passed into law.
Members of the public who were unable to attend public hearings can still send their submissions to the Portfolio Committee Coordinator Mr Vusi Mthembu via email at mthembuv@kznleg.gov.za and via WhatsApp or cell at 060503219 no later than the 3rd of April 2025.
For interviews: Hon Marlaine Nair 0726928963
For enquiries: Mr Bongani Tembe 0823272600
ISSUED BY THE KZN LEGISLATURE COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, MS MARLAINE NAIR
