Note to Editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Cllr Alison Oates, Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Eleanor Quinta and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Ana Motaung.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) is taking proactive steps to rectify the flawed ward delimitation proposals presented by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) in Qwaqwa. The DA has spent two weeks redesigning the illogical proposals to ensure fair representation, accessible governance, and improved service delivery for all affected communities.
Last month, the demarcation board held a public participation meeting in Qwaqwa. Their proposals for new ward definitions were not received enthusiastically by the community.
The Board needed to ensure that wards met a specific range of registered voters, and five wards were too small (8, 9, 15, 20, 21), and two were too large. (30, 34).
To achieve this, voting districts needed to be rearranged in a way that ensured every ward was geographically contiguous. When questioned about what motivated the Board to make the changes they did, they responded that they had done so to present a concept for community re-evaluation.
This is most disingenuous. No changes can be made in isolation, and the community lacks the resources, data and skills of the Demarcation Board.
Examples of their most peculiar proposals included that Ward 19 should extend from the other side of Van Reenen, past the Metsi Matso area, to the current Ward 19. Ward 9 would include 1,159 voters in Extension 5, the Kestell area.
These are mentioned because most local people would be able to identify the areas; however, in the villages, places are often linked with absolutely no direct access, except on foot. This makes the geographical linking a farce.
With a consensus that service delivery must be a prime focus, it is absurd to consider creating a ward with voting stations 110km apart on deplorable roads. Many ward councillors do not have vehicles, and none are given a travel allowance.
In built-up areas, there is simply no reason to have wards 12km long for no good reason except that it was easy for the Demarcation Board.
Some community members are still considering legal efforts to delink the Greater Harrismith and Kestell areas from Qwaqwa. This, however, is a separate issue.
For councillors to do their jobs, for ward committees to function, and for communities to form and take ownership of their environments, easy access must take priority.