Western Cape Local Government MEC Peter Marais, whose boundary demarcation plan was rejected in court this week, is at the centre of a new election controversy, reports Rehana
A NEW local government row is looming in the Western Cape over Local Government MEC Peter Marais’ refusal to prepare new legislation for rural local elections or to consult all interest groups.
Rural organisations have signalled that the election, rescheduled for May 29 next year, could be delayed yet again. This comes after the electoral court this week resolved the protracted dispute between Marais and the ANC on metropolitan boundaries, ruling that Cape Town be carved into six municipalities, in line with the Demarcation Board’s proposal and not Marais’ proposals.
In an open letter to Marais last month, the Centre for Rural Legal Studies (CRLS) warned that the MEC would yet again have to bear the blame for a delay in elections in the Cape as he had ignored regular calls for consultation and transparency from NGOs and political parties regarding the development of his model for rural elections.
The CRLS said to date it knew of no direct consultation with farm workers, women or NGOs considered to be the non-statutory partners in local government negotiations on the formulation of a rural model for local
“The only consultation which appears to be happening is between the MEC and his representatives, organised labour in the form of the Western Cape Agricultural Union, other organisations closely aligned to farmers, and the Regional Services Councils,” wrote CRLS fieldworker Terence Fife.
“Without proper consultation between the MEC and other role players from across the political and organisational spectrum, the model the MEC arrives at will not be acceptable to all affected parties.”
Fife said Marais was the only MEC in the country who had not consulted all stakeholders on the rural local government model. The CRLS called for a provincial local government summit to ensure the voices of farmworkers, women and other interest groups were heard.
The Rural Local Government Lobby — comprising the CRLS, NGOs and two farmworker trade unions — met Marais two weeks ago to raise these concerns. They asked that he amend his voting formula for the rural areas from 60 percent proportional representatation and 40 percent nominated representation of interest groups, to 60 percent of votes for interest
Fife said Marais had admitted that he had not been consultative enough, but said he believed women did not require special representation, despite the fact that they were allowed it in other provinces.
Marais also balked at the suggestion that he prepare new legislation for the elections, Fife said. The rural lobby was unhappy that the Regional Services Council run the elections next year, and a new arrangement would have to legislated.
A suggestion that voter registration be reopened in rural areas was also rejected by Marais, said Fife, claiming the MEC said voters from other provinces would storm the Western Cape to register illegally.
At the time of going to press, Marais had not yet responded.