UNDERSTANDING THE WARD DELIMITATION PROCESS MDB COMMUNICATIONS - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

UNDERSTANDING THE WARD DELIMITATION PROCESS

MDB COMMUNICATIONS

• Barileng@demarcation.org.za
• Dimakatso@demarcation.org.za

PRESENTATION LAYOUT

• 1. Mandate of the MDB
• 2. Introduction
• 3. Background
• 4. Ward delimitation process
• 5. Status of ward delimitation process
• 6. Trends in number of wards: 2000-2021
• 7. Challenges
• 8. Principles guiding ward configuration
• 9. Ward delimitation criteria and application of the norm

10.Revised ward delimitation plan 11.Conclusion

MANDATE & LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

INTRODUCTION

1. Every five years, the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) delimits wards in metropolitan and local municipalities for electoral purposes. 2. The process must be concluded ideally not less than 10 months before the local government elections. 3. The wards have to be delimited for the following reasons:

• a. Change in number of Councillors within a municipality; and
• b. Change

in number

• f

registered voters within a municipality.

BACKGROUND

1. Before commencing with ward delimitation process, the MDB completed municipal outer boundary re-determination process in 2018. Therefore, the MDB will not be conducting municipal boundary re-determinations until after the 2021 local government elections. 2. The MDB, after consultation with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), delimits wards in each local and metropolitan municipality by following critical pre-requisites in this order: a. The IEC provides the municipal segment of the national common voters’ roll; b. Minister of CoGTA determines the formulae for determining the number of councillors for different categories of municipalities; c. The MECs responsible for local government use the formulae to determine and publish the number of councillors

• 50%
• f

the published number

• f

councillors are ward councillors, and

• Wards are equal to the number of ward councillors;

d. Then the MDB, guided by the criteria provided in the Municipal Structures Act, facilitates the ward delimitation process.

WARD DELIMITATION PROCESS

WARD DELIMITATION PROCESS cont..

• 1. The key legal requirements and milestones for the ward

delimitation process are summarised as follows:

STATUS FOR THE CURRENT WARD DELIMITATION PROCESS

1. The IEC has published the certified voters roll in March 2019. 2. The Minister has published the formula for determining the number of Cllrs for different categories of municipalities on the 5th July 2019. 3. The MEC’s responsible for local government in each province have all published the number

• f councillors per municipality.

4. MDB calculated the norms for each municipality together with their variances, i.e. 15% below the norm (minimum) and 15% above the norm (maximum) allowable number of voters in each municipal ward. 5. The MDB conducted technical consultations with municipal officials in August and September 2019 to prepare draft wards. 6. Draft wards (no legal status) were prepared and distributed to all municipalities and are also available on the MDB website (www.demarcation.org.za) or on request at 012 342 2481. 7. Public consultations meetings began February and were to be completed by 30 April 2020. 8. The Covid-19 disrupted the public engagement process when the Board had only consulted with 4 provinces.

TRENDS IN NUMBER OF WARDS: 2000- 2021

TRENDS IN NUMBER OF WARDS 2000- 2021 CONT…

601 291 446 748 437 401 338 162 330 636 300 423 771 513 365 365 174 348 715 317 508 828 543 402 383 194 387 705 309 529 870 566 400 407 204 402 710 319 529 901 568 400 403 232 406 E AST E RN C AP E FRE E ST AT E GAUT E NG KW AZULU - NAT AL LIMP OP O MP UMALANGA NORT H W E ST NORT H E RN C AP E W E ST E RN C AP E

NUMBER OF WARDS PER PROVINCE

2000 2006 2011 2016 2021

NORMS, MINIMUM & MAXIMUM

EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE

NORMS, MINIMUM & MAXIMUM Cont…

FREE STATE PROVINCE GAUTENG PROVINCE

NORMS, MINIMUM & MAXIMUM Cont…

KWAZULU NATAL PROVINCE

NORMS, MINIMUM & MAXIMUM Cont…

LIMPOPO PROVINCE

NORMS, MINIMUM & MAXIMUM Cont…

NORTH WEST PROVINCE

NORMS, MINIMUM & MAXIMUM Cont…

NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE

NORMS, MINIMUM & MAXIMUM Cont…

MPUMALANGA PROVINCE

NORMS, MINIMUM & MAXIMUM Cont…

WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE

WARD DELIMITATION CRITERIA

1. The number of registered voters in each ward, may not vary by more than fifteen per cent from the norm.

• 2. The need to avoid as far as possible the

fragmentation of communities.

• 3. The object is to enhance participatory democracy in

local government.

• 4. The availability and location of a suitable place or

places for voting, taking into consideration the following:

a. Communication and accessibility b. Density of population c. Topography and physical characteristics, d. Number of voters that are entitled to vote within the required time-frame.

• 5. The creation of identifiable ward boundaries.

PRINCIPLES GUIDING WARD CONFIGURATION

• 1. Use voting districts as building blocks for the creation of wards.

2. These voting districts must create a contiguous ward. 3. The MDB tries as far as possible not to split voting districts. 4. Wards boundaries created should be identifiable (geographical identifiable features i.e. roads, rivers, mountains, valleys, etc.).

HOW DO WE GO ABOUT CONFIGURING WARDS? THE NORM AND ITS APPLICATION

• 1. Norm (Average) is equal to number of registered

voters in the municipality divide by number of wards in the municipality.

Example: If a municipality has 20 000 registered voters and 20 wards: Norm = 20 000/20 = 1000 15% below norm = 850 15% above norm = 1150

• 2. Thus, a municipal ward may have any number of

registered voters between 850 and 1150.

23

76320479

110

MAKGOFE HIGH SCHOOL 76321379

155

SPOKOPARK SETHOA CRECHE 76320514

250

GRACELAND LEARNING CENTER 76320503

190

MOLAUTSI SECONDARY SCHOOL 76320491

230

ERNEST MATLOU PRIMARY SCHOOL 76321380

170

KWENA OFENTSE LEARNING AND CARE CENTRE

VOTING DISTRICT REGISTERED VOTERS NORM/ VARIANCES 1 170 2 230 3 110 4 190 5 250 6 155 1150 (15% Above Norm) TOTAL 1105 1000 (Municipal Norm) 850 (15% Below Norm) The ward is compliant with 1105 registered voters, i.e. between 850 and 1150

E.g. Using voting districts, registered voters and municipal norm (1000)

HOW TO CREATE A WARD

CHALLENGES

1. Some settlements and/or traditional council areas are large and thus not always possible to delimit them into a single

• ward. Due to the large size of some settlements and/or

traditional council areas it is not always possible to delimit them into a single ward. 2. The sizes of wards vary in spatial size and extent due to the density of voters, areas with low voter density have bigger wards and vice versa. 3. Lack of understanding of the legislative provisions e.g. some people (including key stakeholders) request for more councillors or more wards from MDB. 4. Uncoordinated and contradictory submissions from stakeholders/communities.

CHALLENGES cont…..

The Amahlubi Traditional Area (Green area) is in more than one ward in the Senqu Local Municipality

CHALLENGES cont…

Ward 16 of Senqu Local Municipality is 20 Square Km Ward 13 of Senqu Local Municipality is 3200 Square Km

REVISED WARD DELIMITATION PROGRAMME: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE ERA OF COVID 19

• 1. The MDB, after consultation with the Independent Electoral

Commission, reviewed the ward delimitation programme to try allow more time to complete all

• utstanding

public consultations.

• 2. In view of the uncertainty of the circumstances regarding the

spread of the Corona virus in the country, the MDB divided the programme into two groups i.e. Batch 1 and Batch 2 (See circular 4 of 2020).

REVISED WARD DELIMITATION PROGRAMME: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE ERA OF COVID 19 Cont...

PROVINCE BATCH 1 BATCH 2 Eastern Cape All municipalities except those in the next column Senqu, Mnquma,Walter Sisulu Free State N/A All Gauteng Ekurhuleni All municipalities except Ekurhuleni KwaZulu Natal All municipalities except those in the next column Edumbe, Mandeni, Ndwedwe, Maphumulo, KwaDukuza, Msunduzi, Mkhambathini Limpopo N/A All municipalities Mpumalanga All N/A North West N/A All municipalities Northern Cape All municipalities except those in the next column Knysna

REVISED WARD DELIMITATION PROGRAMME: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE ERA OF COVID 19 Cont...

REVISED WARD DELIMITATION PROGRAMME: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE ERA OF COVID 19 Cont...

REVISED WARD DELIMITATION PROGRAMME:BATCH 2

HOW TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS (BATCH 2 MUNICIPALITIES ONLY)

• 1. Submissions can be made by writing to the MDB proposing the grouping of

Voting districts for ward configuration of one’s choice.

• 2. Submissions may also be made by completing MDB ward delimitation form

(not compulsory) that consists of three sections:

• a. MDB1 - Form to notify the MDB that local consultations on the MDB’s

draft ward boundaries, have been completed and that the municipality and local stakeholder agree with the MDB’s draft ward boundaries.

• b. MDB2 - Form to notify the MDB that the municipality and local

stakeholders do not agree with some or all the MDB’s draft ward boundaries, and to submit to the MDB alternative proposals on which consensus has been reached with local stakeholders.

• c. MDB3 - Form to submit to the MDB separate individual proposals on

ward boundaries where there is disagreement with the MDB and the municipality’s draft wards.

HOW TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS (BATCH 2 MUNICIPALITIES ONLY) Cont….

• 3. The submission from can be sent to the MDB by:
• a. email (registry@demarcation.org.za); or
• b. by fax 012-3422480; or
• c. via WhatsApp number: 072 819 8220 or
• d. the online submission form: https://arcg.is/TfinO
• 4. All submissions must be sent to MDB by 31 July 2020

CONCLUSION

1. The MDB encourages everyone to participate in this process and influence the configuration of their wards. 2. The success of this work is dependent on the collaboration of all stakeholders including: municipalities, political parties, civil

• rganisations and members of the public with the MDB.

3. The MDB looks forward to continued participation and support of political parties, councillors, CBOs, NGOs and Communities during the ward delimitation process. 4. The MDB will do everything in its powers to ensure that ward delimitation is completed without undermining the country’s efforts to curtail the spread

• f

Covid 19 virus and the relevant disaster management regulations. 5. Everyone is encouraged to adhere to all Covid 19 non-pharmaceutical health and safety protocols and stay safe. DRAFT WARDS ARE AVAILABLE ON WWW.DEMARCATION.ORG.ZA

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT PROVINCIAL COORDINATORS VIA EMAIL

PROVINCE CONTACT EMAIL Eastern Cape Ayanda Monkhe ayanda@demarcation.org.za Free State Fazel Hoosen fazel@demarcation.org.za Gauteng Daniel Sebake daniel@demarcation.org.za Kwazulu-Natal Mthobisi Manzini mthobisi@demarcation.org.za Limpopo Tshifhiwa Nethanani tshifhiwa@demarcation.org.za Mpumalanga Hester Marais hester@demarcation.org.za North West Liz Mazibuko liz@demarcation.org.za Northern Cape Smiso Dlamini smiso@demarcation.org.za Western Cape Naomi Ramokgopa naomi@demarcation.org.za

THANK YOU!!!

www.demarcation.org.za Municipal Demarcation Board @MunicipalBoard