The controversial Constitution 13th Amendment Bill was passed in the National Assembly on Thursday, despite opposition from the Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Independent Democrats, African Christian Democratic Party and the Pan Africanist Congress.
The Bill seeks to realign certain provincial borders to avoid municipal boundaries straddling them.
This was previously attempted through the Constitution 12th Amendment Act, but this legislation was judged unprocedural by the Constitutional Court after it heard objections by the Matatiele municipality, which did not want to be moved from KwaZulu-Natal to the Eastern Cape.
In a judgement delivered last year, the court found part of the Act inconsistent with the Constitution, and therefore invalid. This led to the introduction of the new 13th Bill, which now seeks to amend those parts found to be unconstitutional.
The Bill required a two-thirds majority to be passed.
After a division was called by the Democratic Alliance and votes cast in the House, the Bill was passed with 272 votes, five more than the 267 required. A total of 56 MPs voted against the measure.
Later in the day, the House passed the associated Cross-Boundary Municipalities Laws Repeal and Related Matters Amendment Bill.
Both Bills will now go to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence. — Sapa