Mr LJ Mahlangu - Municipal Demarcation Board

egory A municipalities. During the 2012/13 financial
year all these proposals will be further investigated
by the MDB. Though it is too early to predict
the end result at this point in time, it is likely that
some proposals will be entertained favourably by
the MDB.
The MDB and its administration are aware of
the disruptive consequences of major boundary
changes, and will endeavour to finalise all changes
within the timeframe so as to allow sufficient time
for attention to other important matters in preparation
for the 2014 national and provincial elections,
and the 2016 local elections, such as the review
of establishment notices of municipalities, re-alignment
of voting districts, the delimitation of wards
and electoral processes.
NEW CAPACITY ASSESSMENT MODEL
The Board conducted its last Capacity Assessment
for 2007/08 financial year. A decision was taken to
review the existing capacity assessment model.
Some key features of the new model include:
a) An on-line questionnaire to be completed
electronically by each municipality, (although
technical support was provided, call centre assistance,
visits to certain municipalities etc.);
b) Metropolitan Municipalities included in assessments;
c) An in-depth capacity assessment study for
20% of districts per year over a period of 5
years;
d) The use of secondary data obtained through
stakeholder consultation, e.g. questionnaires
were pre-populated with financial data obtained
from Treasury; and
e) Complete reliance on municipalities to participate
(at their own discretion) actively in the
process.
The online questionnaires were launched on 24
October 2011. Response from the municipalities
was not as positive as expected. The first deadline
communicated was 18 November 2011, at which
point more than 60% of the municipalities had not
yet attempted the questionnaire, 3 more deadlines
were communicated and at the official close of the
7 MUNICIPAL DEMARCATION BOARD - Annual Report 2012
data collection process on 30 April only 9 municipalities
had not participated at all.
All MECs were requested to submit three districts
(of which the MDB will choose only 1) within their
province to have the in-depth study done for the
2011/12 assessment. Some MECs responded and
others did not, in which case a district was chosen
by the MDB.
The final reports based on the new model will be
available from 31 July 2012 and will include:
• A Strategic National Report;
• 9 district qualitative reports; and
• A Report on process learning.
This will be followed by a workshop on the reports
as well as a knowledge sharing seminar. These reports
serve as useful information sources amongst
local government stakeholders.
ALIGNMENT OF SERVICE DELIVERY BOUNDARIES
WITH MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES
In line with a Cabinet Resolution the MDB is assisting
Government Departments to align their service
delivery boundaries with municipal boundaries.
We have assisted the Department of Education
and the Department of Health to adopt the MDB’s
District Municipalities as their service delivery
boundaries by supplying them with the updated
boundaries as at 18 May 2011. We are currently
assisting Department of Justice and Constitutional
Development technically and as advisors on alignment
to municipal boundaries.
RE-ORGANISATION OF THE INSTITUTIONAL
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES
The process that was started by the Board to significantly
restructure the organisation’s establishment
to bring about far reaching changes and to
significantly change the way of doing things at
the Board in a number of core areas of work will
continue during the year. Existing staff have been
migrated to the new structure. The Board’s intention
is that at the beginning of the financial year a
process of appointing staff to new key positions in
the new organisational structure will be in place.