The City of Cape Town has confirmed that new ward boundaries have been finalised ahead of this year’s local government election, following a review by the Independent Municipal Demarcation Board.
The updated boundaries include changes to Ward 107, Ward 113, Ward 117 (a newly created ward), and Ward 23. The adjustments form part of a broader national process to ensure wards remain balanced in terms of population and voter numbers.
According to local councillor Jonathan Mills the demarcation process is guided by strict legal requirements, including a maximum number of registered voters per ward.
“The decision to create a new ward was made by the Demarcation Board, which is an independent body. There is a legal maximum for the size of a ward and so the population growth in the area meant that a new ward was required,” Mills said.
He added that voter registration figures for national and provincial elections are used to determine ward size.
Population growth drives new ward creation
Rapid development and population growth in parts of Cape Town, particularly in the northern suburbs, have contributed to the need for boundary adjustments and the creation of a new ward.
The newly created ward will include areas such as West Beach, the northern section of Sunningdale, Sandown Estate, new development zones, and most of Parklands, with other nearby boundaries also being realigned.
Mills said the changes are intended to improve governance and ensure residents are adequately represented as communities expand.
Despite concerns that boundary changes could disrupt municipal services, officials have assured residents that most services will continue as normal.
“Most service delivery will not be affected as they work on large areas which include multiple wards,” Mills said. “However, there are some ward-specific services which will be expanded to provide those services to the new ward – including metro police, neighbourhood safety officers and ward allocation budgets.”
He added that the restructuring would ultimately enhance service delivery by improving oversight and local engagement.
More direct representation for residents
One of the key outcomes of the new ward structure will be improved representation for residents in newly demarcated areas.
Mills explained that communities will benefit from an additional councillor dedicated specifically to the new ward once it comes into effect.
“Residents will also have an additional councillor specifically for that new area to help deal with municipal issues and escalations,” he said.
Changes take effect after 2026 election
The new ward boundaries will only come into effect on 4 November, the day after the local government elections. Until then, current wards and councillors will remain in place.
Following the election, voters within the newly defined boundaries will elect their ward councillors, who will then be officially declared as part of the election results.
Residents are encouraged to check their voter registration details to ensure they are correctly assigned to the updated ward boundaries ahead of the election period.
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