At least 500 people packed a local soccer stadium in Matatiele as the second day of public hearings on the region’s controversial incorporation into the Eastern Cape started on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Zandra Hechter said that by 10.30am there were at least 500 people at the stadium. She said a contingent of 60 police officers was keeping watch over proceedings, but no incidents had been reported.
Matatiele was incorporated into the Eastern Cape on February 28, hours before voting started in the local government election of 2006. Similarly the Umzimkulu region was incorporated into KwaZulu-Natal from the Eastern Cape.
The hearings are being held in terms of the Constitution 13th Amendment Bill. Hearings were already held in Pietermaritzburg, and the last public hearings were held in Umzimkulu and Matatiele.
However, the hall in Matatiele at which the hearings were held was too small and all those who wanted to speak did not have an opportunity to do so. A decision was taken to stage a second day of hearings at the Matatiele Soccer Stadium on Tuesday.
While Umzimkulu residents have overwhelmingly endorsed their incorporation into KwaZulu-Natal, those in Matatiele have been divided over incorporation.
On August 18, Constitutional Court Judge Sandile Ngcobo said in his judgement that the part of the 12th Amendment Act that altered the boundaries of KwaZulu-Natal was invalid because it was not adopted in a manner consistent with the Constitution.
Although the Eastern Cape held public hearings on the matter of Matatiele being incorporated into the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal did not. There was therefore not sufficient public participation in the legislative process, which was inconsistent with the Constitution.
Ngcobo suspended the order of invalidity for 18 months for Parliament to adopt a new amendment to the Constitution if it wished to do so.
Matatiele-Maluti Mass Action Organising Committee chairperson Mandla Galo said on Tuesday the organisation would present 3 920 written submissions against the district’s continued incorporation into the Eastern Cape.
”The reasons for wanting to stay in KwaZulu-Natal are economic. The distance between Matatiele and Bisho is the same as going from Matatiele to Pretoria.”
He said most people in the district are oriented towards Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The opposition to being incorporated into the Eastern Cape goes across the colour spectrum. ”White business and farmers are behind us. I must sincerely thank them for giving their workers time off today to come here [to the stadium].”
He added: ”The amicable solution is a referendum.”
Once the public hearings have been heard, the KwaZulu-Natal legislature will then have to vote on the district’s incorporation into the Eastern Cape. It is believed that the legislature will vote on the issue on Thursday.
All of the province’s opposition political parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), are against incorporation.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has seen its support in the district dwindle, will need all its members to be present as it has a slim majority in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.
Traditionally an ANC stronghold, the issue of incorporation has split the ANC in the district with the formation of the African Independent Congress, which garnered a large percentage of the vote and four seats in the 2006 municipal elections. Two of its councillors have used the opportunity of floor-crossing to switch sides to the DA.
DA councillor Kenneth Biggs said the KwaZulu-Natal legislature has the power to veto Matatiele’s incorporation into the Eastern Cape. ”It’s serious crunch time for us,” he said. — Sapa