Public participation in the demarcation of Municipal boundaries in South Africa

Abstract

Municipal boundary demarcation is a contested issue in the democratic South Africa. The issues of boundary demarcation are complex in that they are impacted by several factors. These factors include public participation, community objections, the interference of political parties on boundary demarcation and service delivery demands on new municipalities and governance concerns all have a role to play in the demarcation of municipal boundaries. The function of the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) is to review, determine and revise municipal boundaries and ward boundaries within municipalities in South Africa. In fulfilling its functions, the MDB needs to be transparent and accountable when it reaches its decisions. The reason for this is that boundary demarcation is about spatial transformation and is the key to local government reform. Public participation is important for the communities that are affected by the demarcation decisions. However, the concept of having a say is not clear cut. Contestation arises around who has the final say, and whether all the voices, the perspectives, the desires and the ambitions of the communities are sufficiently expressed and acknowledged.