OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday
PROVINCIAL and Local Affairs Minister Sydney Mufamadi has postponed the announcement of the date of South Africa’s local government elections for the second time in a week after an impassioned plea by traditional leaders.
Mufamadi admits the government does not see the need to postpone the elections – “as this could have negative implications” – but said the decision was made to allow discussion of a report on the concerns of traditional leaders, who are worried that municipalities in traditional areas will diminish their powers.
The announcement has already been postponed several times to accommodate the concerns of the leaders, who feel threatened by the introduction of the new demarcations which will reduce the number of municipalities from 845 to around 285. Some of the new boundaries cut across traditional areas.
The concerned chiefs are understood to be mainly from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
In terms of the constitution, an election must be held within 90 days of the expiry of the term of office of existing local government structures on October 31.
Mufamadi said from the government’s view, there was no need for the traditional leaders to be concerned as a process was under way to ensure their powers did not disappear with the second democratic local elections.
The government had indicated its willingness to find ways of enhancing their roles, Mufamadi said, adding it was in that context that the government decided to postpone the election date.
He said the demarcations had to be restructured because the local governments had not been up to standard, leading to them being unable to generate their own income or create jobs. The demarcations were necessary to develop the rural areas because millions of people from those parts were flocking into the cities.
It was the responsibility of the government to ensure the democratisation of local government was completed. He added the demarcation process proved there could be a better life for all, as it would provide jobs and wealth.