Community Empowerment

Ward Demarcation – Have You Commented Yet?

By Super User 588

While the country is in lockdown for COVID-19, you will have the time to check out the proposed new ward demarcations ahead of the 2021 municipal elections.

This public participation process is run by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB). The country’s Constitution states that if the electoral system for local government includes ward representation, that delimitation of wards must be done by an independent authority. MDB is the independent authority.

MDB is appointed in terms of, and operating according to, procedures and criteria prescribed by national legislation – the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, 1998 (MDA) and the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (MSA).

The country’s Constitution states that if the electoral system for local government includes ward representation, that delimitation of wards must be done by an independent authority.

Wards delimited, or determined, by the MDB involves the division of the whole geographic area of a municipality into smaller geographic areas, called wards.

Among others, the MDB must ensure all wards in a municipality have approximately the same number of voters. This is according to Schedule 1 of the Structure Act.

Consultations with planning and geographical information management officials from municipalities lets the MDB align draft wards by considering local inputs and addressing geographic barriers.

The MDB provides municipalities with draft ward boundaries for consultation purposes. As part of this consultation, the public is given time to consider the proposed draft wards.

You can have your say by logging on to www.demarcation.org.za and follow the instruction on the page – deadline for inputs is 30 April 2020.

  • When a member of the public or municipality and/or its stakeholders agree with the proposed wards, submit form MDB1.
  • When a member of the public or municipality and/or its stakeholders agree with the proposed wards, submit form MDB2.

These forms must reach the demarcation board no later than 30 April 2020 either via email to registry@demarcation.org.za or by fax 012 342 2480.

All inputs will be considered before the MDB publishes ward boundaries in provincial Gazettes for objections. Objections must be submitted 14 days after publication of the proposed wards.

Final ward boundaries will be handed to the IEC, who then prepares for the local elections.

You can also view the proposed ward demarcation on the City’s website.