Magisterial districts are being reviewed to ensure they can be aligned with municipal boundaries where possible, Minister of Justice Brigitte Mabandla said on Wednesday.
Her department had already finalised a process of investigating current magisterial district boundaries through consultative meetings.
”The national steering committee on the redemarcation of magisterial district boundaries approved provincial reports which contain recommendations on each magisterial district,” she said.
The department would review all recommendations ”to ensure that all magisterial districts are aligned with the municipal boundaries, as far as is possible”.
”The alignment of justice service-delivery points with the municipal boundaries will ensure that there is integration of services across all spectrums,” Mabandla said.
Magisterial district boundaries would change only after notice had been given in the Government Gazette.
”The implementation of the Constitution Twelfth Amendment Act 2005 and the Cross-Boundary Municipalities Laws Repeal and Related Matters Act [Act No 23 of 2005] does not automatically change the magisterial boundaries,” she said. — Sapa