A PUBLIC meeting was held in Graaff-Reinet by officials from the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) to explain the process whereby Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality would change from 14 wards to 12 for the 2021 municipal elections.
Ayanda Monkhe, determination and delimitation specialist from the MDB, explained that as each ward should have a similar number of voters, and so the total number of registered voters (40 794) is divided by the number of wards, to give an “average” or norm figure of 3 399.
“This may vary by up to 15%, meaning that each ward must have between 2 890 and 3 908 registered voters,” said Monkhe.
“There are about 1 400 more registered voters now than for the 2016 elections, and this, together with the decrease in the number of wards, has increased this norm by just over 500.”
It was stressed that the guidelines recommend not splitting obvious communities and suburbs, but unfortunately it will be unavoidable in some areas.
Maps were provided showing the new ward boundaries, but as these were rather vague, there were some questions from those present as to exactly where the boundaries would be.
In an analysis of the changes, Ward 2 and Ward 11 remain unchanged, and Ward 1 has only a minor change, the loss of one of the farming areas. Ward 13, in the former Baviaans municipality, and Ward 14 in Kroonvale, disappear completely.
“Wards 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in the former Camdeboo become a real mixture of previous ward boundaries with a number of split voting districts, and some are now completely new areas,” commented Samantha Graham-Maré, MP for the Karoo constituency.
The current Ward 5 will now be split between Wards 4 and 5, and Ward 4 loses Umasizakhe but gains part of Kroonvale. Ward 7 will be a challenge, as it will extend from Aberdeen in the west, include Adendorp as before, but also incorporate most of Asherville, a distance of over 60km.
Ward 10 gains a number of smaller farm voting districts, but the core of Klipplaat remains as it was.
“Wards 12 and 9 absorb the former Ward 13, which is very sensible as that was a difficult ward to look after,” added Graham-Maré. Ward 8 remains almost intact barring a minor addition of 450 voters.
Registered voters in the municipality have until 30 April to submit comments on the proposals. Information on how to do this can be obtained from the office of the Speaker, Thembisa Nonnies.
- Forms are also available on the MDB’s website www.demarcation.org.za.
