Pic: Chairperson of Local Demarcation Board in Magogong village, Tebogo Morweng

BY OBAKENG MAJE
THE community of Magogong village, near Taung was engaged in a proposal meeting after the Demarcation Board announced that they will divide their village in two and allocate each section to each ward.

Magogong village was under Ba-ga Maidi in the past and now some of the residents want their village to be relocated back into Ba-ga Phuduhucwane kingdom.

However, some of residents said the re-location will surcease service delivery.

According to Greater Taung Local Municipality speaker, Deliwe Zethi the Demarcation Board will reduce the municipality’s wards from 26 to 24 in the next local government elections next year.

“The Municipal Demarcation Board is an independent authority responsible for the determination of municipal boundaries. And as the Board’s status is an independent authority is also protected by section 3 of The Local Government and the determinations and re-determinations of municipal boundaries. We all know that the Board is also mandated by legislation to declare the district management areas; to delimit wards for local elections; and to assess the capacity of municipalities to perform their functions and that happen every after five years” Zethi said.

She said the Magogong village has been affected by demarcation issue and the residents were given time to table their proposals before the board can take decision.

Zethi said the Demarcation Board has reduced the municipal wards to 24 and that means some of the existing need to be accommodated in other wards.

However, Christopher Crisp who is a resident was not impressed by the decision and said that will hinder service delivery.

“I do not think it will be fair or benefit us because we will now be accommodated in other wards which are undeveloped, so that means we will have to wait for those wards to be developed before we could see any developments taking place in our area” Crisp said.

Another resident, Lebogang Phillips said there are other areas that are not affected by demarcation, but are at the end of the village.

“Those who chose our area were supposed to start at the end or the entrance of the village as we are in the middle of the village yet we’re affected. The problem was we between ward 16 and ward 18, yet we’re affected. Service delivery will be affected because the village will be developed one-sided because of this demarcation issue.

“Imagine at the other side of the village there are high-mast lights and at the other side we covered by darkness. We believe Magogong can have its own ward to avoid protests” Phillips said.

Tebogo Morweng, who is the chairman of Local Demarcation Board Committee, said they want physical barriers to be removed because that will cause chaos within the communities.

“The Board’s vision is the progressive realization of ideal structures of local government that are spatially integrated, institutionally sound, functionally viable and developmental in orientation. However, those who are elected to bring services to the community need to do so to avoid protests, divisions within the communities and poor service delivery” Morweng said.

-TDN

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