The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs will hold public hearings on the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill from 25 to 26 August in Limpopo. The committee had previously intended to hold these hearings during the second week of August but preparations were disrupted by the Cape Town taxi strike.

“The Constitution compels Parliament to facilitate meaningful public participation and we were forced to postpone the previously scheduled hearings because adequate planning and preparation could not be undertaken due to the taxi strike. We are now confident that every preparatory work has been done and that a conducive environment will be in place for meaningful public participation to happen,” said Mr Fikile Xasa, the Chairperson of the committee.

The Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, 1998 (Act No. 27 of 1998) to align and update the legislation with current Demarcation Board practices, and to rename the Municipal Demarcation Board as the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority.

The Bill also provides for the establishment of the Demarcation Appeals Authority to deal with appeals; and provides a framework for more extensive public participation and stakeholder consultation for any demarcation or delimitation of municipal wards.

Details of the hearings (Day 1)

Date: Friday, 25 August 2023

Venue: Thohoyandou Town Hall

Time: 10:00

Details of the hearings (Day 2)

Date: Saturday, 26 Agust 2023

Venue: Aboo Tayob Hall, Mokopane

Time: 12:00

The committee invites all interested citizens and organisations to attend the public hearings and share their views with the committee.

Source: Parliament of South Africa